HC Deb 01 June 1908 vol 189 cc1539-40
MR. BELLAIRS

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an official telegram was received by the Admiralty from the Rear-Admiral commanding, sent on 27th September, 1906, from Corfu, stating that the port intermediate crank-head of H.M.S. "Angler" had sheared and wrecked the engine and cylinder, and that three men had been seriously injured; and whether he can state why this casualty was omitted from the annual Return ordered by this House.

MR. McKENNA

This accident was omitted from the annual Return for 1907 as, owing to the papers on the subject being required for a lengthy inquiry and subsequent action, they did not reach the Department for record until November, 1907. The casualty will, however, be included in the 1908 Return, with a note explanatory of the reason why it was not included in the previous year's list.

MR. BELLAIRS

Seeing that exactly the same excuse was made in the case of H.M.S. "Terrible," are we to understand that the Admiralty, which takes six months to get out a Return ordered by this House, can always avail itself of the excuse that the records are away at the time a Return is being prepared?

MR. McKENNA

The Admiralty are not availing themselves of any excuse. The cases will appear in a subsequent Return.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)

Is any public advantage gained by a continuation of these Returns?

MR. McKENNA

The Question of the right hon. Gentleman gives me very much to think over on this subject.