§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information as to the "Emerald" having been towed to Cawsand Bay by the Ocean Steamship Company's steamer "Ducalion," after having broken away from the tugs whose business it was to bring the "Emerald" from Ireland to Plymouth; whether the tugs were undermanned; did the crews strike work on the voyage, and were they replaced by stokers from the "Emerald"; whether any of the tug crews did fifty hours' consecutive duty before reliefs were provided; and what is the cost of the assistance rendered to the "Emerald" by the "Ducalion"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAA report on this matter has been received this morning, and will in due course be considered by the Admiralty. In the meantime, I think it is only right to say that I have myself read the report, and cannot find that the allegations put forward in the question are according to fact.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDDoes the answer of the hon. Gentleman refer to the whole of the suggestions in the question or to any specific one?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWell, I am not anxious to discuss the matter, because we have a report which will have to be considered. I think it only fair—and I myself have gone through the report in detail—to say, as I have just said, that the general allegations put forward are not according to fact.