§ MR. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, seeing that the Cliffe Creek watch vessel contains, in addition to seven coastguardsmen, six wives and eleven children, and that it lies about twenty yards from the shore and several miles from any school and from any doctor, he will state whether its presence where it is now, is necessary in the interests of the public service; and whether some method can be devised by which more comfortable conditions for the men's families might be secured.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The presence of the coastguard at Cliffe Creek is necessary in the interests of the public service. It has for some time been recognised that the accommodation in the watch vessel is not very suitable for families, and it has therefore been decided to abolish it, and to substitute coastguard buildings on shore. The matter has to be considered with other urgent items, and it is intended to erect the new station when funds are available for the purpose.