§ MR. STAVELEY-HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty will he state who sees Press representatives at the Admiralty; who determines the nature and extent of the information given verbally to them; whether special information is verbally given to the representatives of some papers which is not imparted to those of others; and whether the First Sea Lord ever gives interviews to editors of newspapers, or other journalists, or to other persons taking part in public controversy respecting naval matters.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is, the private secretary to the permanent secretary. The Answer to the second part is, the permanent secretary. The Answer to the third part is in the negative. With regard to the fourth part of the Question, I do not know whom my colleagues on the Board may see unless they choose to tell me; but I have every confidence that no communication will be made respecting naval matters in the sense which I gather is intended to be conveyed in the Question.