HC Deb 02 July 1908 vol 191 cc946-7
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the naval arrangements have been concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Commonwealth of Australia; and if he can state what has been the delay in bringing the matter to a close.

MR. LAMBERT

The Answer to the Question is in the negative. I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the First Lord of the Admiralty on 21st May. The subject is an exceedingly complex one, and the scheme put forward by the Australian Government requires much amplification.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

Can the hon. Gentleman indicate in any way when this matter is likely to be brought to a settlement, or say what is the point about which there is a difficulty in coming to a conclusion?

MR. LAMBERT

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman any information as to when it is likely to be settled, and it would be too long in an Answer to a Question to give him details of the points which are being considered by the Australian Government and the Board of Admiralty.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I will put an unstarred Question down for next week.