§ MR. GROVES (Salford, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that, during the recent gunnery practice of H.M.S. "Edinburgh," one of the anchors was lost off Margate; that long and unavailing efforts were made to recover the same; and, seeing that many similar anchors are now lying in the Government dockyards, of no value beyond their weight in old iron, being of obsolete design, whether he will see that in future one of these is taken up to replace an anchor accidently lost, and thus save the expenditure of time and public money in such searches.
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN, Suffolk, Woodbridge)It is not the fact that the anchor lost by H.M.S. "Edinburgh" was of obsolete design. It was of the close stowing type at present in general use in battleships, and the larger first-class cruisers, and in making every endeavour to recover it the Commanding Officer was carrying out the instructions contained in the King's regulations. The reserve of such anchors would require to be considerably increased if, as the hon. Member suggests, no efforts should be made for the recovery of those accidently lost.
§ MR. GROVESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the search for this 352 anchor cost the taxpayers of this country over £2,000?
§ [No answer was returned.]