§ MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether there is any intention on the part of the Admiralty to disband the Royal Naval Volunteers.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThere is no intention whatever of disbanding the Royal Naval Volunteers, who are an efficient and essential part of the personnel of the Naval Service. In point of fact we have a Bill before Parliament, which I hope the House will pass unanimously, for strengthening their position.
§ MR. SMEATONasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that rumours had been circulated to the effect that the Royal Naval Volunteers were to be disbanded; and whether if would not be advisable to give equal publicity to the contradiction of the rumour.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI am much obliged to my hon. friend for giving me the opportunity of publicly denying one of these mischievous and baseless rumours concerning the Navy and Admiralty which have been circulated.