HC Deb 22 July 1908 vol 193 c76
MR. H. C. LEA (St. Pancras, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the House an assurance that the King's Regulations will be altered so as to forbid any officer or man in the British Navy engaging in business.

MR. MCKENNA

No, Sir.

MR. H. C. LEA

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at Somerset House the registered address of the Chairman of the firm of J. H. Andrew & Co. (Ltd.) is given as "H.M. Battleship King Edward VII., the Channel Fleet"?

MR. MCKENNA

My hon. friend asked me that Question the other day, and I think I have replied to it.

MR. H. C. LEA

Is the House to assume that the Board of Admiralty consider it is conducive to the best interests of the taxpayers of the country that naval officers should engage in business?

MR. MCKENNA

My hon. friend asked me whether I proposed to make any change in the King's Regulations so as to forbid any officer or man in the British Navy engaging in business. The Board of Admiralty do not propose to make any change.

MR. H. C. LEA

Are we to assume that the Board of Admiralty consider it conducive to the best interests of the Navy that officers on full pay should engage in business?

MR. MCKENNA

The hon. Gentleman's Question was as to any officer or man. That Question I have answered.

MR. H. C. LEA

I will alter my Question to make it refer to any officer on full pay.

MR. MCKENNA

When my hon. friend has altered his Question, I may give him an altered Answer.