HC Deb 05 March 1912 vol 35 cc197-8
Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether port admiral yachts have been abolished and in future the admirals are to have an allowance; whether, on the recent occasion when the Admiralty yacht "Enchantress" was in commission, the Lords of the Admiralty sent the ship round to the different ports visited, travelling themselves by train to meet her; whether he is aware that the Admiralty yacht mainly serves the purposes of an hotel; and whether, in the interests of public economy, he can see his way to deal with the Admiralty yacht in the same manner as with the yachts of the port admirals?

The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)

I have carefully considered the general question of the Admiralty yacht, and have come to the conclusion that it should be retained. It is desirable, in the public interest, that the visits of the Board of Admiralty to the ports and to the Fleets should be frequent, and that members of the Board, particularly the First Lord himself as the Parliamentary head, should have opportunities of seeing things with their own eyes, and of getting to know and keeping in touch with officers in the dockyards and the seagoing Fleets. Such an association is of real value, and the facilities afforded by the Admiralty yacht play an important part in it. It stands on a wholly different footing from the yachts of the port admirals, which have been abolished, for the port admirals reside at the centre of their local commands, while the Board of Admiralty have the whole of the establishments of the Navy to inspect. The Admiralty yacht becomes a hospital ship in time of war, and her crew join the Fleet on mobilisation. In these circumstances, therefore, I do not recommend that any change should be made. I know nothing of the other matters referred to by the hon. Member and set out so fully in his question, and they do not appear to me to be of public importance even if they were true.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is the cost of the yacht annually to the State?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Frequent returns have been made, but I cannot answer that question off-hand.

Viscount WOLMER

Is it not a fact that port admirals also have to visit the Fleet at sea?

Mr. CHURCHILL

No, Sir; I think it will be found the yacht is hardly ever used for that purpose.