§ 7. Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that some thirty stokers of the Royal Fleet Reserve, immediate class, twelve stokers of the Royal Naval Reserve, and about twenty-one Marines, all belonging to the Chatham Division and drafted to one of His Majesty's ships, had received no leave since the commencement of the War till August last; will he say whether they have yet had leave; and, if not, will he take immediate steps to secure that leave be given to them?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. and learned Friend is apparently under the impression that the particular ship to which he refers came home from foreign service in August last. She did not. Had she done so, leave would, of course, have been granted. The ship in question is still on foreign service, and arrangements are actually in progress to relieve those of the men referred to who have been three years abroad; the relief of all such men will be completed as soon as opportunities. permit.
§ Mr. HOHLERI desire to repudiate any such impression. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that writing in July he stated that nine men had been sent to relieve these men, but that they were nine men of the Plymouth and not Chatham Division, and is he further aware these men applied in the ordinary service way in November, 1916, for leave, and will he say what steps he has taken since July to relieve these marines and stokers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf my hon. Friend will give me those facts I will put them before the proper authorities at once If a ship is on foreign service it is very difficult to relieve the crew. My hon. Friend knows that. We do what we can.
§ Mr. HOHLERIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have months since given him every detail, with even the name of each marine, in correspondence, and will he say what steps he has taken to get these men of the Chatham Division leave after service of three years?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have placed the matter every time at once before the proper authorities, and, unless I am very much mistaken, I have every time written to my hon. and learned Friend or answered his questions in the House.