§ MR. F. B. MILDMAY (Devon, Totnes)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Representative of the War Office on the Departmental Committee of Inquiry into Target Practice Seawards, gave a distinct pledge that the War Office would not contemplate the possibility of shutting up either entrance to Plymouth Sound (as is now proposed by the new by-laws); and that, on the strength of that pledge, the mass of evidence which had been accumulated against such a proposition was not produced before the Committee; and whether he can give an assurance that this pledge will be adhered to?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThere is no intention of interfering with vessels and boats in the ordinary course of navigation; the object of the by-laws is to prevent boats or vessels anchoring, or intruding and causing wilful obstruction in the areas which are described as closed. It is quite a misunderstanding that fishing or other vessels will be prevented from going into Plymouth. I may add that the objections to the by-laws have just been received from the Board of Trade. Most of the objections are based on this misunderstanding; others are on minor points. It is hoped that there will be no difficulty in coming to a satisfactory understanding.