§ 7. Sir A. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the Government will be willing to hand over a proportion of the ships' boats which are surplus to likely requirements to approved units, such as sea cadets, sea scouts, etc., at a nominal rent, so that instead of creating an unremunerative expense they might be doing a valuable national service?
§ Mr. AMERYTwenty-nine boats have already been lent, free of charge, to various recognised units of the Sea Cadet Corps. Applications for these boats must be dealt with on their merits, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that the Admiralty will give all assistance within their power to recognised organisations.
§ Viscount CURZONIs it not a. fact that it would require a certain expenditure to put most of these boats into a serviceable conditions? Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the Government will not enter into any expense in respect to the supply of these boats?
§ Sir A. BENNIf there are boats out of repair, are they going to be kept in that condition or put into repair?