HC Deb 01 June 1908 vol 189 cc1538-9
MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty in reference to his official statement that the collision of H.M.S. "Lively" and H.M.S. "Earnest," omitted from the annual Return, was of a very minor character, whether the "Lively" was damaged in the stern and was docked for repairs on the 20th August, 1906; and whether he can explain upon what principle the Admiralty comply with the Order in the case of several ships where no repairs had to be executed and omit to comply with it in this case.

MR. McKENNA

As already stated, the reason why the alleged collision was omitted from the Return was that there is no official report of this collision at the Admiralty.

MR. BELLAIRS

Is it the case that vessels of the British Navy may run into each other and be docked without being reported to the Admiralty so as to be included in the official Return?

MR. McKENNA

SO far as I am aware the vessels did not run into each other.

* MR. REES

Can we have a Return of the collisions between the hon. Member for Lynn Regis and the Front Bench?