§ Sir ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the issue of a Report on the Working of the Transport Department of the Admiralty, by Mr. T. Paterson Purdie, member of the Ship Licensing Committee, Board of Trade; whether he authorised a thorough investigation to be made by Mr. Purdie and a Report to be published; and, if not, whether this so-called Report was inspired or based on information communicated by an official of the Admiralty?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe gentleman referred to was informed—as any other shipowner who has made the inquiry has been informed—of the general system followed in requisitioning tonnage. Nothing of a confidential character was communicated to him, and he was therefore at liberty to send an account to the Press, a step which he took on his own initiative.