HC Deb 15 November 1917 vol 99 cc576-7
77. Major CHAPPLE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give each week the number of lives lost by submarine sinkings?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

It would be quite impracticable to give each week accurate figures of the number of lives lost in vessels sunk by submarines, as in the great majority of cases this information is not obtainable until a considerable time after the publication of the weekly statement. My right hon. Friend will, however, consult the President of the Board of Trade as to the possibility of publishing figures periodically in arrear.

79. Sir OWEN PHILIPPS

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will favourably consider the advisability of at once offering a prize of, say, £100,000, to the inventor who discovers a sure and certain means of detecting, locating, and following the movements of a. submerged submarine before she comes within striking distance with her torpedoes?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The Admiralty have constantly under consideration methods of stimulating inventiveness in all directions, and this suggestion will also be borne in mind.

Sir O. PHILIPPS

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise how very successful in the time of Napoleon was the offer of £20,000 made by the French Government for discovering a way of producing sugar other than from sugar-cane, and might not a similar offer prove successful in this ease?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I am sorry to say that, if I ever knew it, I have quite forgotten it. Perhaps my hon. Friend will send me particulars.