§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the fact that copies of detail drawings of the machinery in Her Majesty's torpedo-boat destroyer Havock have been offered for sale; whether the person or persons so offering them have been discovered; and whether the existing law provides adequate punishment for the disclosure of such information regarding vessels of war, when constructed wholly or in part in private yards?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAYSHUTTLEWORTH) Lancashire, ClitheroeMessrs. Yarrow, the builders of the Havock, have made a, representation to the Admiralty to the effect stated, but no proof has been furnished of the fact, nor are we aware that any offender has been discovered. The existing law is considered sufficient to meet any case of unlawful disclosure of confidential documents.
§ MR. HANBURYDo the Admiralty believe that these plans have not been stolen at all?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHNo proof has been furnished of the fact, and the Admiralty have no information as to 435 whether the drawings were stolen, lost, or what became of them.
§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)Are the plans missing?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHMessrs. Yarrow have informed the Admiralty that certain facts have become public which ought to have been regarded as confidential. Whether that is due to certain documents having been purloined we do not know.
§ MR. TOMLINSONMy question was, whether there are any plans missing.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)Have the Admiralty any reason to believe that copies of these documents have been purloined?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHWhat we have reason to believe is this: that Messrs. Yarrow state that some copies of the plans have fallen into the hands of other people who ought not to have them.