§ 82. Viscount WOLMERasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he recently visited Monte Carlo on His Majesty's ship "Hussar"; how long he remained there; whether His Majesty's ship "Hussar" waited for him in Villefranche Harbour all the time; and what advantage to the nation has accrued from this visit?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)His Majesty's ship "Hussar," which is the yacht of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, was sent by him to Villefranche for the purpose of taking me to Toulon to see the French Fleet. She visited no other ports, and was used for no other purpose.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1903, when Lord Selborne was First Lord of the Admiralty, two ships of war were placed at the disposal of Mr. Brodrick, not for public purposes but for the purpose of a honeymooning tour?
§ Viscount WOLMERCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many previous First Lords of the Admiralty visited Monte Carlo in one of His Majesty's ships?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Noble Lord makes rather a speciality of this kind of question. I have already said in answer to his question that the vessel in question was sent to Villefranche Harbour, and was used only for a public purpose, and not for any other purpose at all. As to the general question as to what has happened in the past, I cannot give the information, but I have always understood that no one used the Admiralty yacht for private as opposed to official purposes so much as Lord Selborne.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTI desire to ask you, Mr. Speaker, with reference to the first part of the question as to whether the yacht visited Monte Carlo, and its repetition by the Noble Lord after the statement has been publicly contradicted, whether you will not direct the Noble Lord to withdraw that observation?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not unparliamentary to suggest a visit to Monte Carlo.