§ 11. Viscount CURZONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the s.s. "Treveal" was wrecked at St. Alban's Head at 9 p.m. on the 9th January, resulting in the loss of thirty-six lives; whether the naval authorities at Portland were informed of the wreck and need for assistance at 9.15 p.m. by wireless from the wreck; whether this information was not conveyed to the lifeboat authorities at Swanage and Weymouth till 9.40 a.m. on the 10th January and not at all to the lifeboat authorities at Poole, with the result that the lifeboat was unable to get to the wreck till 11.30 a.m.; what was the reason for this very grave delay; and whether, in spite of a signal from the ship that she was being abandoned, no action was taken by the coastguard to assist the attempt of the survivors to get ashore?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Board of Trade is holding a formal inquiry into this matter, at which all evidence at the disposal of the Admiralty will be given. My Noble Friend will doubtless agree as to the undesirability of making any statement as to the facts until the inquiry has been completed.