HC Deb 05 February 1900 vol 78 c574
MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will include in the promised Return of the Transports for South Africa the rate per ton per month, and other particulars contained in the similar returns of 1884 and 1886.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover Square

For obvious reasons it would be injudicious to publish the rates for ships taken up by the Admiralty while we have to continue to charter ships. The returns quoted by the hon. Member were not presented until the conclusion of the operations for which the vessels were engaged. When the transactions connected with the chartering of ships for the operations in South Africa are concluded, it will of course be our duty to furnish full particulars on the subject.