§ COLONEL J. MCCALMONT (Antrim, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty (1) whether he is aware that on the occasion of the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to Ireland last year, arrangements having been made for their departure from Larne Harbour, exception was taken by Admiral Fullerton to carrying out this detail, on the grounds that he could not take Her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert into that port, as she was 320 feet long, drawing 16 feet of water, and there was but 400 feet of swinging room; (2) whether the Admiral's 279 statement as to the capacity of the harbour is borne out by the Admiralty charts; and (3) whether he is aware that vessels of greater length than the Victoria and Albert frequently enter this harbour?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. G. E. MACAKTNEY,) Antrim, S.The Admiralty had no responsibility for the movements of the Royal yacht during the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to Ireland last year, nor are they aware of the arrangements which were made. The Admiralty have no information as to the statements made by Admiral Fullerton. The depth in the deepest part of Larne Harbour is 20 to 25 feet. The swinging room between the contour lines of 18 feet is 240 feet, and between the contour lines of 14 feet, 330 feet. There is no information at the Admiralty as to the subject-matter of the third paragraph.
§ COLONEL MCCALMONTIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the larger ships built by Messrs. Harland and Wolff go into this harbour?
§ MR. MACARTNEYI am not, Sir.
§ DR. C. K. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)But they cannot turn round.