§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the established practice of the Navy to hold a public court-martial on every officer who loses or surrenders his ship; and, if so, whether he can state why this rule has not been enforced in the case of H.M.S. "Ariel," lost on Malta breakwater on 19th April.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe practice is usual, but not invariable. Where all the facts have been brought out by a Court of Inquiry—as in this case—the Admiralty has power to deal with it directly without further trial. The officer in question was censured.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)asked whether the procedure differed from that which was followed five years ago in the case of the hon. Member who put this somewhat ungenerous Question.
§ MR. BELLAIRSasked whether it was ungenerous to ask such a Question when, where a court-martial was held, the sword of an officer was returned to him with honour where there was no fault on his part. That was the reason why he put the Question.
§ MR. DALZIELMay I ask for an Answer to my Question?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONrequested the hon. Member to give notice.
§ MR. BELLAIRSMay I ask what is the insinuation which the hon. Member desires to make against me?
§ MR. DALZIELThe only explanation I desire to make—
§ MR. SPEAKERAll this is quite irregular. It is a dispute between two hon. Members.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)Let them step outside.