§ MR. WHITEHEAD (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what steps he has taken to prevent such firing from Sheerness into the navigable channels of the Thames estuary as occurred early in May last.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BUCHANAN, Perthshire, E.)It is the navigable channels of the Thames that the guns at Sheerness are intended to protect. And if any useful practice with these guns is to be carried out it is manifestly impossible to avoid firing over these channels. Strict safety regulations are laid down and observed, and no shot is fired over any water when there are vessels in dangerous proximity. The Secretary of State believes that every possible precaution against the possibility of danger is taken by the responsible-officers concerned.