§ 44. Mr. Shinwellasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet considered the complaint regarding the food supplied to men stationed at Whale Island depot, about which the hon. Member for Seaham wrote on 3rd September, and which he acknowledged on 4th September; why so long a period has elapsed between lodging the complaint and ascertaining the facts; and whether he will now deal with the matter?
§ The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. V. Alexander)I regret that there has been so long a delay in dealing with this matter, which required special inquiries. I think my hon. Friend did a service in calling attention to what has proved to be a fault in the organisation at the naval establishment which he mentions. I am glad to state, however, that this has now been put right, and I am sending my hon. Friend full details.
§ Mr. ShinwellMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in view of his inquiry and the defects revealed, he will take steps to see that in other establishments defects of that kind will be dealt with?
§ Mr. AlexanderYes, Sir, I certainly will. One of the great difficulties in this kind of service in war time is the necessarily frequent change of leading personnel in dealing with organisation, and we are trying to counteract that by new methods to see that these things do not happen.