HC Deb 06 September 1909 vol 10 cc889-90
Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the several Papers relating to naval manœuvres which, having been presented to Parliament, have been ordered by the Admiralty to be withdrawn from circulation; whether the Report on the manœuvres of 1906, dealing with the question of the protection of trade routes, is included among the Papers so withdrawn; and what is the reason for the issue of this Order?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

Only the Parliamentary Report of the 1906 manœuvres has been ordered to be withdrawn from Admiralty circulation, the reason being that a fuller and more detailed Report has been issued.

Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON

Is it intended to withdraw this as a Parliamentary Paper?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That Report was issued as a Parliamentary Paper and is in the Library, but for service reasons we think it desirable that we should have a fuller and more detailed Report, and that Report has superseded the Parliamentary Paper and the original Report.

Sir GILBERT PARKER

May I ask if the information contained in the original Report laid on the Table is contained in the later and fuller Report?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I should think so, because the whole purpose of it was to give a fuller report and more detailed information.

Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSON

Is this; fuller and more detailed statement a confidential document or is it likely to be presented to Parliament?

Dr. MACNAMARA

No.

Lord BALCARRES

Is the Report presented to Parliament to be withdrawn?

Dr. MACNAMARA

It has been superseded so far as officers of the fleet are concerned by a fuller statement for service reasons.

Lord BALCARRES

Are we to understand that Parliamentary Papers, when they become obsolete, are withdrawn by the Department? If a document is presented to the House of Commons and is withdrawn by the Government Department, will it still appear in our Library here?

Dr. MACNAMARA

It is not withdrawn at all in that sense. We thought it expedient to send a fuller statement to the officers of the fleet.