§ 8. Mr. LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the amount at present of the Grand Fleet Fund; to what purpose is it to be devoted; and whether the Admiralty is satisfied that the men of the lower deck have had adequate opportunity of expressing their opinions as to the disposal of this Fund?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty have no information as to the amount of this Fund, or as to the wily in which it is being utilised. The Fund owes its existence entirely to the efforts of the officers and men of the Grand Fleet, to whom, therefore, it is intended to leave its administration, unless those immediately concerned express any other wish on the subject.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWould my right hon. Friend answer the last part of the question, "whether the Admiralty is satisfied that the men of the lower deck have had adequate opportunity of expressing their opinions as to the disposal of this Fund"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI take it that is the point of my right hon. Friend's question. We do not propose to interfere unless those immediately concerned express any other wish on the subject, but I will take note of what my right hon. Friend says.
§ 9. Viscount CURZONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Report of Grand Fleet Committees A and B on the Pay and Prospects of the Officers and Men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines can be published for the information of the House; if so, whether, in. view of the fact that these Committees have already reported, these Reports can be published without waiting for the 1259 Report of Admiral Jerram's Committee; and if the Report of that Committee can be published in due course?
§ 19. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to publish as a White Paper the Report of the Grand Fleet Committee, presided over by Admiral Oliver, dealing with the pay and pensions of officers in the Royal Navy; and will he take a similar course when the Committee report on the evidence that they have taken or are about to take on the pay and pensions of men in the Royal Navy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty cannot arrive at any decision as to the publication of the Report of Admiral Jerram's Committee until it has been received and considered The Reports of the Grand Fleet Committees are not alternative Reports to the Beard, but are to be regarded as part of the evidence now being considered by the Jerram Committee, and the question of their publication is covered by the reply given to the previous question asked by my Noble and gallant Friend on Wednesday last.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKECould not the right hon. Gentleman give the House some indication of the date when the Report of Admiral Jerram's Committee will be issued, and when it will be published?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIn reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, Admiral Jerram is working to present to the Board the Report of the Committee by the close of this month. As regards the last part, that is covered by the answer given last Wednesday.
§ Mr. H. SMITHHaving regard to the great importance of publicity, is there any real reason why these Grand Committee Reports should not be published irrespective of Admiral Jerram's Committee?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend had better read the answer which the First Lord gave on the 5th March to my Noble Friend (Viscount Curzon) on that point.