§ 19. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will reconsider the decision that His Majesty's Ship "Iron Duke' is to give leave from Portland owing to there being no accommodation in Portsmouth Harbour, and allow the vessel to proceed to Portsmouth, anchor at Spithead, and give leave from there, observing that to give leave from Portland will entail financial hardship on the ship's company?
Mr. ALEXANDERThis matter has been given the fullest consideration. It has been thought best in all the circumstances that the "Iron Duke" should give leave from Portland, which is her normal base.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs it not rather hard on the Portsmouth men that they should be shot off at Portland?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe men are not entirely Portsmouth men, but I should like to inform the hon. Baronet that the commander-in-chief at Portsmouth gave the matter his own personal consideration and I am convinced that if the work of the ship had permitted it, he would have arranged the leave as desired.