HC Deb 29 April 1898 vol 56 cc1540-1
SIR G. S. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the continuous increase in the Navy and the limited area of our present naval arsenals, and in view of the action already taken by Russia to establish a naval arsenal on the Kola river, and with a view to better safeguarding our communications with Canada, Her Majesty's Government will give prompt consideration to the selection of a site and establishment of a naval base and arsenal somewhere on the northern coasts of the United Kingdom?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY

With the immense amount of work we have in hand, I cannot promise to give the suggestion of my honourable Friend serious consideration.

MR. D. V. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)

Is it not the fact that the northern coast of Scotland is entirely unprotected, and that there is not a single dockyard upon it?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY

This is not a question of protection. It is a question of dockyards, and we must draw a distinction between the two.

MR. PIRIE

Is it not a question of Imperial defence?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The honourable Gentleman's Question certainly does not arise out of the one on the Paper.