§ * MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a collision between the new battleships "Commonwealth" and "Albemarle" occurred early this year, resulting in severe damage to the former; whether he can state what was the Report of the Court of Inquiry which was held into the circumstances; whether the Report of the Court was accompanied by a covering letter from the Commander-in-Chief; and, if so, what was the nature of that Report and what was the final decision of the Board of Admiralty in the matter.
§ MR. LAMBERTThe Commander-in-Chief, Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Arthur Wilson, reported that it was not in his opinion a case for court-martial, and the Board of Admiralty were of the same opinion.
§ * MR. ASHLEYWill the right hon Gentleman answer my Question as to the Court of Inquiry?
§ MR. LAMBERTI have answered it.
§ * MR. ASHLEYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will not answer my Question why information of a precisely similar kind asked for in this House by the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs was given him by the Admiralty to use against another hon. Member of this House?
§ MR. LAMBERTThat is a totally different Question. I have answered the hon. Member's Question. The Commander-in-Chief reported that it was not, in his opinion, a case for court-martial, and the Board of Admiralty were of the same opinion.
§ * MR. ASHLEYMay I ask, does the Tight hon. Gentleman consider that an Answer to the paragraph which asks what was the Report of the Court of Inquiry which was held into the circumstances.
§ MR. LAMBERTAs I have said, the Commander-in-Chief reported that it was not, in his opinion, a case for court-martial, and the Board of Admiralty are of the same opinion.
§ VISCOUNT TURNOUR (Sussex, Horsham)Part of the Question is whether the Report of the Court was accompanied by a covering letter from the Commander-in-Chief, and what was the nature of that Report.
§ MR. LAMBERTI have just said what the Commander-in-Chief's Report was.
§ LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)The hon. Gentleman really has not answered the Question.