§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been directed to an exhibition held in Manchester and Leeds under the patronage of 535 the First Lord of the Treasury, the Commander-in-Chief, and other official persons; whether he is aware that Government property lent by the Admiralty has not been returned; and, seeing that the promoter of this exhibition is an undischarged bankrupt and an ex-convict, can he say what steps, if any, were taken to ascertain the position of this man; what sums, if any, have been handed over to the naval and military authorities, which was the advertised object of these exhibitions; and will he say what steps it is proposed to take for the recovery of the Government property lent.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday on this subject by my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for War, which represents the facts of the case generally with reference to the Admiralty also.† All the articles lent by the Admiralty were insured against damage or loss, in accordance with the usual practice. The number of articles not yet returned is very small, and special steps are already being taken with a view to their recovery. I also desire to associate myself with the remarks of my right hon. friend as to the attitude which it will be necessary to adopt in the future with regard to local exhibitions.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONWhat further steps, if any, were taken to ascertain the position of this man, and what steps are being taken to recover the small quantity of public property which has not been returned?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERPerhaps the hon. Member will give me notice. I may be able to get the information from the legal branch of the Admiralty.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONNotice was given in the Question on the Paper.