§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that during the recent disturbance at the Portsmouth Naval Barracks the senior officer in command ordered some stokers who were implicated in the disturbance, and were required to parade in the gymnasium, to kneel while he addressed them, and that this order was first disregarded, and on being repeated was obeyed with evident reluctance by the men with one exception, the offender being immediately handed over to the naval police; and will he say if a naval officer is invested with authority to order the men under his command to kneel; and, if so, under what circumstances, and under what provisions, if any, of the Naval Regulations; and whether, if the giving of a command of this character be in con- 1284 sonance with the provisions for maintaining discipline in the Navy, steps will be taken for the abolition of the power of naval officers to order their men to kneel, having regard to the fact that delinquents in courts of justice do not kneel.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI have nothing to add to my Answer yesterday to the hon. Member for the Kirkcaldy Burghs.†
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLThe Question was with reference to an incident that occurred a year ago. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my Question?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThat is part of the whole case. No statement in regard to the matter can be made until the Board of Admiralty have completed their consideration of the report of the Court of Inquiry.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAre orders to kneel allowed to be given in the Navy?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI will give full information when I have got and considered the report.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, Burghs)Does the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that the House will have an opportunity of considering the report, and when will he make a statement?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONProbably to-morrow.