§ 55. Mr. ISAAC FOOTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the recent performance of the pageant at Greenwich was given with his permission and, if so, whether the scheme of the pageant was previously submitted for his approval; and whether the performance involved any expenditure of public money?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThe Greenwich Night Pageant, which was given in aid of naval and local charities, was performed with my permission. It was not necessary for the scheme of the pageant to be submitted for my approval, but I was fully aware of its general nature. The performance involved no expenditure of public money.
§ Mr. FOOTCan we have an assurance that the sanction of the Ministry will not be given in future to a pageant which, while purporting to show how the heritage of the sea had been built up, contemptuously dismissed all reference to the Protectorate and the Commonwealth and to the supreme service to the British Navy rendered by the great Protector, by Vane, and by Colonel Robert Blake, who, in our own parish church, is described as the chief founder of England's naval supremacy?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLI hope the hon. Member will agree that the pageant as a whole was a beautiful representation of British history. If we hold it again, as I hope we may, I will make representations about what the hon. Member says. I consider that Blake was one of the greatest of our British Admirals.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the right hon. Gentleman bring out the fact that Cromwell was a brewer?