HC Deb 23 February 1916 vol 80 cc664-5
3. Mr HOGGE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether the allegations made against certain officers of the Royal Naval Air Service, referred to in my question of the 21st September last, have now been investigated and with what result?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

I feel sure my hon. Friend will realise that the Admiralty cannot undertake to make public the findings of Courts of Inquiry, which are confidential. Nevertheless, I think the House should know—without departing from established rule, which must, of course, generally be respected—that after perusing the report of the Court of Inquiry, the Board consider that the charges made against an officer of the Royal Naval Air Service, and referred to by my hon. Friend in his question of 21st September last, were unfounded.

Mr. HOGGE

Does that answer mean that I made any charge?

Dr. MACNAMARA

No, not at all. My hon. Friend drew my attention to certain charges which had been made and I said inquiries would be made. This reply gives the result of those inquiries.

4. HOGGE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty wheher the six Rolls-Royce touring cars and their chassis, fitted with lorry body, which are being sold by the Director of Navy Contracts, are old cars or new cars; how long they have been in use; and whether they are being sold without reserve?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Six Rolls-Royce cars and one Rolls-Royce chassis, fitted with lorry body, have recently been sold by the Admiralty. These cars were purchased at various dates since the commencement of the War, and are now being disposed of in the interests of economy. The question of reserve is not applicable as the cars were sold by tender after advertisement, and the Admiralty was at liberty to decline all tenders if prices offered were not satisfactory. This contingency did not arise in the present instance, as prices obtained were quite satisfactory.

Mr. HOGGE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the officials of the Admiralty now get about?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That does not arise out of the question. The cars in question were being used by the Air Department.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Are we to consider this to be the forerunner of other economies in the Admiralty?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That I cannot say.