§ Mr. TILLETTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty are unable to provide torpedo-boat destroyers of sufficient speed to convoy Irish cross-channel passenger traffic, in view of the U-boat menace and the loss of the ss. "Leinster"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for West Toxteth, on Tuesday, in which I stated that the Admiralty have no craft capable of maintaining the speed necessary in the weather that prevailed at the time of the "Leinster" disaster. My hon. Friend will recognise that it is not in the public interest to refer to the allocation and disposition of H.M. Naval Forces generally.
§ Sir H. NIELDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can now announce the policy to be pursued in relation to the placing of German officers of high rank upon hospital ships and passenger cross-channel ships, or the means to be taken in the future to protect those ships against the enemy submarines?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe question of carrying German officers of high rank in hospital ships has received the full consideration of His Majesty's Government, but no decision has been reached in favour of adopting such measures; neither is it proposed to adopt the policy in respect of passenger cross-Channel vessels.