§ MR. E. T. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Italian Squadron now attending the opening of the Baltic Canal will, on its way back, visit Portsmouth officially; if so, can he state what 1379 arrangements are to be made by, and at the cost of, the Admiralty, to ensure a reception to the officers and men such as, and similar to, that accorded last year to the Mediterranean Fleet when at Spezzia; and, will arrangements be made by which Members of both Houses of Parliament can visit Portsmouth for the purpose of going over some of the Italian vessels, as well as some of the Channel Squadron?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH, Lancashire, N.E., Clitheroe)The Admiralty have received an official intimation of the visit of the Italian Fleet, which will arrive at Portsmouth on Tuesday, July 9. Arrangements have been commenced for giving a cordial reception to the officers and men. An opportunity will also be afforded for Members of both Houses of Parliament to visit some of the Italian ships at Spithead on Saturday, July 13, and at the same time to see something of the work in progress at Portsmouth Dockyard. I fear that time may scarcely permit a visit to individual ships of the Channel Fleet, which will also be lying at Spithead.