HC Deb 24 July 1916 vol 84 c1325
73. Mr. PETO

(speaking from the Opposition Gangway): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the wearing of their uniforms ashore by merchant captains and officers has been officially sanctioned by the Admiralty and the Board of Trade; whether he is aware of cases where senior naval officers have questioned these uniforms stating that, being similar to naval uniforms, they are calculated to deceive, and, as such, those wearing them are liable to prosecution under the Defence of the Realm Act; and whether, in order to avoid placing such indignities upon merchant captains and officers and for the sake of better order and discipline on merchant vessels, he will consider the desirability of adopting a standard uniform recognised by the Government for the use of officers of the merchant service, thus abolishing those uniforms of a heterogeneous kind which are adopted by different shipowners and which are liable to question under the new conditions of the law?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is not entitled to ask a Question from there.