§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement that the First Lord of the Admiralty has recently been at the front; whether the statement is true; and, if so, what were the duties which the First Lord was carrying out there on behalf of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend visited Paris last week on important Admiralty business, and on his way back spent the Saturday and Sunday at Sir John French's headquarters at the Commander-in-Chief's invitation.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILDo I understand that the right hon. Gentleman was not discharging any duties on behalf of the Government when he was at head-quarters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, none. [HON. MEMBERS: "Joy ride!"]
§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYWas the First Lord of the Admiralty carried across the Channel in a destroyer?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sorry such a question should be asked. The First Lord went on most important Admiralty business to Paris. Since the beginning of the War he has not been absent from the Admiralty more than fourteen days during the whole of these nine months.