§ SIR EDWARD GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will inform the House the original cost of Her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, and the amount of money since expended annually upon refits, decorations, and repairs, and also upon the reconstruction of the hull and machinery; and will he also state to what use the Victoria and Albert is to be relegated when the proposed new yacht is ready for sea?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYThe hon. Member has already the information he asks for prior to 1883, when he obtained a return of expenditure upon Her Majesty s yachts. Since 1883 the average annual expenditure has been £8,847. It is not possible at short notice to distinguish between the various items of expenditure, as requested by the hon. Member, nor could there be any object in doing so. The use to which the Victoria and Albert may be put, when relieved by the new yacht, will depend upon the result of the thorough survey of the hull and machinery, which will then be made.