Mr. PRESTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give a list of all yachts exceeding 250 tons, Thames measurement, which were chartered by the Admiralty during the War, the monthly rates of charter paid for each yacht during different periods, and also the lump sum paid in respect of each boat as a reconditioning grant?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe number is considerable, and I do not see what advantage to the public interest would accrue from the cost involved in obtaining and printing the list. I hope my hon. Friend will not press for it. To provide accurate lists of the amounts paid in lieu of reconditioning would involve a good deal of investigation, owing to the nature of the settlements, which include money allowed or deducted for stores, appreciation, depreciation, etc. No good purpose can be served by giving the information asked for regarding lump sum settlements, as it would be useless for purposes of comparison without detailed explanations of how the settlements were arrived at, and in any case, it is not considered advisable that this information should be given.