HC Deb 01 June 1893 vol 12 cc1727-8
MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many Protestant Chaplains are attached to the Mediterranean Squadron, how many men they have each under their charge, and what their salaries are; whether it is the case that there is only one Roman Catholic Chaplain attached to the squadron, and that he has about 1,000 men under his charge; what his salary is; whether he lives on shore and only visits the ships occasionally, the men being scattered in different ships, and his work being thus very difficult; what provision there is for the ministrations of the Roman Catholic Chaplain while the ships are cruising; whether the present Chaplain is of Maltese nationality, and whether he is aware that there is a strong desire amongst the sailors for a Chaplain of their own nationality; and whether the Government will consider the advisability of appointing additional Roman Catholic Chaplains of British or Irish nationality?

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON,) Dundee

There are 13 Chaplains on the Mediterranean Station (including Malta Dockyard), whose total salaries amount to £3,084, or an average of £237 a year each. The total complement of the ships is 8,721, about 80 per cent. (i.e. 6,976) belong to the Church of England. A Roman Catholic Priest at Malta receives £80 a year for ministering to the Roman Catholics of the ships in that port, and also to the prison. He resides on shore, but Malta Harbour presents no difficulty as regards visiting ships. Another Roman Catholic Priest receives £40 a year for ministrations at the Naval Hospital at Malta, and the Roman Catholic Priest at Gibraltar is paid by Capitation Grant. The total number of Roman Catholics in the Mediterranean Squadron is about 750. When ships are in port elsewhere than at Malta, where facilities exist, on Sundays arrangements are made for lauding the men to attend Mass. Since the appointment of the present Roman Catholic Priest at Malta, who is a Maltese, the Admiralty have become aware of the existence of a wish among the Roman Catholic officers and men of the Squadron to have a Chaplain of their own nationality, and consideration will be shown to this desire when an opportunity occurs. There is no intention of appointing additional Roman Catholic chaplains in the Mediterranean.

MR. MAURICE HEALY

May I ask what the hon. Gentleman means by the words "when opportunity occurs?"

MR. E. ROBERTSON

In the case of a vacancy arising.