§ 19. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what reason His Majesty's Ship "Repulse" is not giving Christmas leave from her home port, Sheerness; and whether, seeing that a welfare request by the lower deck that all ships should return to their home ports for leave was granted by the Admiralty, he will consider, when exceptions are by necessity made, of granting to the ship's company their going-on-leave free railway facilities to their home ports?
§ Mr. AMMONWith reference to the first part of the question, it was necessary for His Majesty's Ship "Repulse" to go to Portsmouth for docking and other work. In view of the uncertainty as to the date she would be able to leave Portsmouth and the very considerable amount of extra work which would have been involved in steaming the ship to Sheerness in the middle of the Christmas leave period, it was felt that it would be to the advantage of the ship's company that she should remain at Portsmouth during the whole leave period. With regard to the latter part of the question, I am not aware that any such welfare request was granted, and I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer given him on this subject on the 20th November.