§ 12 and 13. Commander BELLAIRSasked (1) the date, time, and place of the court-martial to be held concerning the loss of the destroyers " Strongbow " and " Mary Rose" and the Norwegian convoy on 17th October; (2) the terms of reference of the courts-martial on the survivors of the destroyers " Strongbow " and " Mary Rose"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe court-martial to inquire into the loss of the " Mary Rose " will probably be held at Chatham at 10 a.m. on the 3rd December. The court-martial to inquire into the loss of the " Strongbow " has had to be postponed owing to the condition of the commanding officer. The Naval Discipline Act does not admit of a court-martial being held to inquire into the loss of the convoy, but the matter will arise at the courts-martial on the two destroyers. The order to the Court will in each case be in the customary form " to inquire into the cause of the loss of the ship and to try the surviving officers and crew."
§ General Sir IVOR PHILIPPSWill it be a public Court?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say. Power is taken, I think, under the Amended Navy Discipline Act to hear part or the whole of the case privately.
§ Commander BELLAIRSBy what authority does the Admiralty act in not holding a public inquiry Is it by an Order in Council; if so, has it been laid upon the Table of the House, in accordance with the Naval Discipline Act?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf my memory does not fail me, one of the War Emergency Acts amended the Naval Discipline Act by including a Section giving the President of the Court and the Admiralty power to hear all or part of a case in private.