§ Mr. GEORGE GIBBSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the officers of the Fleet bear any part of the cost of illuminating the Fleet on the occasion of naval reviews, or whether the whole cost is defrayed out of moneys voted by Parliament?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative.
§ Sir FREDERICK BANBURYasked what has been the cost to the taxpayer of the three recent naval displays this summer, including the cost of conveyance and entertainment of Members of both Houses of Parliament?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe special expenditure incurred in connection with the 1978 recent naval displays amounts to about £1,800.
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether I am correct in supposing that, as there were three naval displays, each cost £333 6s. 8d., and that the remaining £800 is made up of the expense of providing Members of Parliament with railway tickets?
§ Mr. McKENNAOh, no; the hon. Gentleman would be entirely in error. The whole cost of the last naval display was £800, including the railway tickets, lunch, tea, and use of the ship. The railway tickets cannot be a very large part of that.
§ Lord BALCARRESDo I understand that the total cost of bringing the Fleet to the Thames was only £300 odd?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe cost would be extremely small. It would be impossible to estimate the cost of the coal consumed in bringing the Fleet to the Thames, but it would necessarily be extremely small, for the ships would have been consuming coal wherever they were. I have given the cost of the entertainment, which amounted to £1,800.
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I ask whether the £1,800 includes the whole cost of the entertainment?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes; it includes the cost of entertaining the Press delegates and Members of both Houses of Parliament, and the railway tickets.
§ Lord EDMUND TALBOTAnd the cost of illuminations?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is no cost for the illumination of ships.