HL Deb 20 February 1918 vol 29 cc95-6

LORD BERESFORD had the following Notice on the Paper—

To call attention to the serious losses of vessels conducting traffic between Great Britain and Ireland; and to move a Resolution.

The noble and gallant Lord said: My Lords, I have been asked to postpone this Question. I should like to take this opportunity of calling attention to the curious position in which I find myself. I am asked to postpone the Question because the noble Earl who represents the Admiralty in your Lordships' House has gone abroad, I presume on duty. The position appears to me to be very serious. Not only has the noble Earl who represents the Admiralty in this House gone abroad, hut, the First Lord of the Admiralty has been away for weeks on other duties than those connected with the Admiralty. I desire to protest against this state of affairs. I think that it is most undesirable. If a statesman is appointed to an office he ought to carry out the work of that office and not be sent upon other duties. I beg to say that I shall put my Question down again for next Tuesday.