§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can say when H.M.S. Minotaur will take up her station as training ship in Cork Harbour?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. E. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.A large number of preliminary arrangements have to be considered before a training ship can be stationed at a fresh locality. These arrangements are now under discussion, and no conclusion has yet been arrived at.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the decision to station this training ship in Cork Harbour was announced early last March by the late First Lord of the Admiralty? Can the hon. Member give any reason for the long delay that has taken place?
§ MR. MACARTNEYThere may have been some private communications ; but I am not aware that any announcement to that effect was made in the House.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANMay I remind the hon. Member that the announcement was contained in the statement of the late First Lord of the Admiralty which was made in the House on the 7th of March?
§ MR. MACARTNEYFurther questions were put by the hon. Member, and answers given on behalf of the Admiralty; but no decisive answer is reported. There are many important preliminary arrangements to be considered, and no final decision has yet been arrived at.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANDo I understand the reply to be that no final decision has been arrived at with regard to the transfer of a ship to Cork Harbour?
§ MR. MACARTNEYI think the hon. Member must give notice of that question, which is different from the question on the paper.