§ Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) the periods during which each of the captains of the fishery cruisers took their holidays in 1933 and 1934, and the sailings of the cruisers as recorded in the log during those periods;
(2)the periods during which each of the engineers of the fishery cruisers took their holiday vacations in 1933 and 1934, and the sailings of each of the cruisers affected as recorded in the ships' logs during those periods;
(3)the periods during which the crews of the fishery cruisers took their holiday vacations in 1933 and 1934; whether two or more of the crew of any cruiser were absent on holiday at the same time; and the sailings of the cruisers as recorded in the ships' logs during those periods?
§ Sir G. COLLINSAn examination of the records of the fishery cruisers shows that some holiday leave was taken in every month from January, 1933, to December, 1934, the practice being to spread annual leave over the whole year in order to ensure that the minimum number of men are off duty at any one time. The information desired would accordingly involve preparing a detailed statement of the movements of each of the five fishery cruisers over a period of two years, together with a detailed statement of the leave taken during the same period by each of five commanders, 10 engineers and 69 members of the crews. As the sailings of the vessels were not affected by leave absences, the expenditure of time and labour on the preparation of such statements does not appear justifiable in the public interest.