§ 27. Mr. SCRYMGEOURasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a large number of witnesses are prepared to give evidence in connection with the disaster to His Majesty's Ship "Hampshire"; and whether he will arrange for an inquiry at which the evidence of these and others can be taken?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo such witnesses have expressed to the Admiralty any desire to give evidence on this matter, and I am not aware of the existence of fresh information which would add to the knowledge already obtained on material particulars, or justify the appointment of a body to inquire into an event which occurred so long ago.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that no fewer than 200 witnesses, either on sea or land, desire and are prepared to come forward and give first-hand evidence at any inquiry which he is prepared to hold? Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to hold an inquiry?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have no information whatever of the 200 gentlemen referred to—
§ Mr. BRIDGEMAN—or women. I do not quite understand at what kind of inquiry they wish to give evidence. It would be impossible for me, unless someone brings primâ facie evidence, to reopen the case.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the purpose of the inquiry is to establish what really took place at the time of this disaster, and how it came about?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWe have had an inquiry into that, and as far as we have been able to collect evidence we are satisfied as to the cause of the disaster. Unless there is some primâ facie evidence 1409 that it was caused by something else, I do not think that a further inquiry is desirable.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURIs the right hon. Gentleman not prepared to receive this fresh evidence that is publicly pledged to be presented? Is he not prepared to have that inquiry?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI do not know what the hon. Member means by witnesses "publicly pledged." If they want to give evidence, why do not they tell me so?
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURIs not the right hon. Gentleman prepared to have such an inquiry, so that these witnesses may be able to give, for the benefit of the public, information which is so important concerning the cause of the disaster?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAll my answers have been to the effect that I must have some prima facie evidence that these witnesses have something new to state. Everybody would be very glad to know the truth, but we cannot go to the expense of a long inquiry, a fishing inquiry, to satisfy those who wish to bring a charge against someone else.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANCan the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that all the information that has been placed before the Admiralty has been published, and is in the possession of the Admiralty?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThere has been some misunderstanding. The Report of the Inquiry has not been published, but all the material evidence that was taken, and the information derived from it, has been given to the public.
§ Mr. MACLEANCannot the minutes of the Court of Inquiry be placed where they can be seen?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have already given reasons—which were stated five years ago by Dr. Macnamara—why it is very undesirable to break the precedent, and publish the evidence.