§ MR. MARKHAMI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will say why no facilities were given to Members of this House to attend, at their own expense, the naval review at Spithead on 3rd August; whether he is aware that the Secretary of State for War has given every facility to Members to attend military manœuvres; and will he say the reasons why the First Lord has not followed this practice.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONNo indication reached the Admiralty of any general desire on the part of Members to attend the review. Had any such desire been expressed it would certainly have been complied with.
§ MR. MARKHAMIn the case of future reviews are hon. Members to go to the Admiralty and state their desire to go to the review? Is there any precedent for giving facilities to the Press when they are not given to Members of the House?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI had not the slightest idea that there was any desire on the part of hon. Members to go to the review. If any such desire had been expressed it would most certainly have been complied with.
§ MR. MARKHAMAt least twenty Members spoke to me on the subject.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe only Member who spoke to me about it was the hon. Member himself, and that at the last moment, and I did my best to give him facilities.