HC Deb 05 April 1910 vol 16 cc208-9
Mr. STANLEY WILSON

asked what are the official regulations, if any, relating to the use of the Admiralty yacht "Enchantress"; do these regulations permit the use of the yacht by persons other than the Lords of the Admiralty and their staff, and, if so, by whom; can the yacht be employed for purposes other than the official inspection of dockyards or the service generally of the Admiralty; what is the cost of the annual maintenance and provisioning of the yacht; and is this expenditure separately accounted for in the Navy Estimates?

Mr. McKENNA

There are no regulations. The use of the ship is at the discretion, of the Board of Admiralty. The cost of annual maintenance and provisioning, including cost of coal, is about £9,350; this amount is not shown separately in the Navy Estimates.

Mr. STANLEY WILSON

May I ask whether this yacht has been used by private individuals, and, if so, whether they have paid for their own victualling and coaling, or whether these charges are paid by the British taxpayers?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir; in every case where any person other than an official has been entertained on beard the Admiralty yacht, except on official occasions, the cost of the person so entertained is always borne by their host.

Mr. STANLEY WILSON

Has the yacht only been used on tours of inspection?

Mr. McKENNA

It depends upon what the hon. Member precisely means by tours of inspection. There is a system of inspection at the ports, and if the hon. Gentleman limits, his inquiries to those particular expenses, I must answer that-the yacht-has been frequently used for other purposes, but it is invariably used for some official purpose.

Mr. STANLEY WILSON

Has it occasionally been used for pleasure cruises?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir. The statement was made in one of the papers some little while ago that I used the yacht for a pleasure cruise. That statement was not true.

Mr. BURGOYNE

Is it the fact that there is a daily poundage per head for guests on the Admiralty yacht?

Mr. McKENNA

That is so. In every case where a guest goes on the yacht I pay a daily poundage per head.

Mr. BURGOYNE

Would it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to tell me the net receipts from this source during the last two years?

Mr. McKENNA

I do not think it desirable to make such a statement. I can assure the hon. Gentleman, if he is anxious on the point, that I have made a most careful examination of the accounts, and the State does not lose.