§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the loss by enemy action of a new cargo steamer of 9,300 tons deadweight on the 13th December last upon her first voyage; whether he is aware that there was a loss of fourteen lives, including the master, chief officer, and first engineer; whether, on the previous day, two steam trawlers were attacked by enemy destroyers at about 4.30 in the morning of 12th December off the Tyne; whether, on the same day, 12th December, at 11.45 a.m., an attack was made in the North Sea on a convoy and, notwithstanding the above circumstances, the cargo ship in question was ordered by the Admiralty to proceed alone and to overtake the convoy which had started some time previously; and whether the Admiralty will improve the system of intelligence under which officers in charge of the dispatch of outgoing ships will be more fully advised of enemy action in their immediate neighbourhood?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe answers to the first four parts of my hon. Friend's question are in the affirmative. The Admiralty deeply regrets the loss of the valuable lives referred to in the second part of the question. The allegation that the cargo ship in question was ordered by the Admiralty to proceed alone to overtake a convoy which had started some time previously is not correct. The last part of the question therefore does not arise.