§ 10. Mr. Doddsasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what decision he has reached in considering providing facilities to enable representatives of the technical and national Press to view Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia."
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasI have considered the hon. Member's suggestion but I am sure the House will agree that, until Her Majesty The Queen has had an opportunity of seeing her yacht in its finished state, it would be inappropriate for the Admiralty to seek authority to permit an inspection by the Press.
§ Mr. BenceWill the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that if and when technical Press representatives visit the yacht the visits will not be such expensive visits as those of the technical experts in the past three months?
§ Mr. ThomasI must deny absolutely the implication in the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. I was one of those who visited the yacht, and I am not aware that I caused any excessive expense.
§ Mr. ManuelHow much?
§ Mr. ThomasI went to inspect the shipbuilding yards on Clydeside, and there was the cost of my railway journey to Glasgow and back. While I was there I had the pleasure of inspecting the Royal Yacht. There has been a good deal of exaggeration about the increased expense of the Royal Yacht. It is very small compared with the increased costs of shipbuilding generally since her keel was laid down, and those who built her have informed me that every kind of economy was made at the request of the late King, followed by the request of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh.
§ Mr. DoddsWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if a decision is delayed too long the value of the visit by the Press will be lost? In view of the tremendous amount of money that has been spent on this great engineering project, and the need for publicity for our shipyards, will not the right hon. Gentleman try to expedite the inspection by representatives of the technical Press?
§ Mr. ThomasI am quite prepared to go into the question again, if the House wishes, on the return of Her Majesty, but I am sure the House will agree that that could not be done before Her Majesty herself inspects the yacht.