§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the case of a Clyde pilot, William MacKinlay, who was tried at Glasgow, on 15th May last, for reckless navigation of the steamship "Maracas" on 11th November preceding, whereby H.M.S. "Harrier" was alleged to have been endangered; if so, will he say why so long a time was allowed to elapse before this case was brought to trial, to the great disadvantage of the defendant; why his Department took four months to instruct the prosecuting authority in Scotland and another month to give them fuller particulars; and if in future, if a charge is to be instituted in Scotland, he will see that no such delay as this occurs.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) My attention has been called to the case. There does not appear to have been any avoidable delay. Much inter-departmental correspondence was necessary, as well as reference to the owners of the "Maracas" and the Clyde Pilot Board, before the matter could be placed in the hands of the legal authorities. For the intervening period until judgment was given by the sheriff at Glasgow the Admiralty cannot be held responsible.