§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state what was the total number of days upon which H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh was absent from his duties on leave or otherwise during each of the three years of his tenure of the appointment of Admiral of the Port at Devonport; and what was the total number of days upon which his predecessor was absent on leave or otherwise during each year for a corresponding period of time?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI stated last week that during the time that H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh held the appointment of Commander-in-Chief at Devonport he was subject to, and complied with, the Regulations with regard to leave. The Admiralty were responsible for the leave which was granted, and it did not interfere with the efficient performance of the duties of Commander-in-Chief. Under these circumstances, I must respectfully decline to answer the first question of my hon. Friend. With regard to the second question, the predecessor of the Duke of Edinburgh was granted all the leave for which he asked. Answers cannot be given to questions which propose to institute comparisons between the leave granted to one officer and another, especially when there is no doubt as to the fact that both discharged 957 their duties to the entire satisfaction of the Admiralty.
§ MR. KEARLEYArising out of the answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the public journals, Service papers, and others, have stated that during the two years and ten months His Royal Highness held the post of Commander-in-Chief at Devon-port he was absent no less than 379 days?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHNo; I am not aware that the public journals have stated anything of the kind, and such statements would be entirely contrary to the facts of the case.