§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Secretary of State for War the amount paid each year to steamship companies for the hire of vessels employed as Government transports; and whether he will reconsider the question of reintroducing the naval transport service?
§ Mr. WALSHAs regards the first part of the question, the normal annual amount expended by the War Department on account of hire of vessels for transport purposes is about £700,000. As regards the second part, the present system of hiring transport works efficiently and smoothly so far as the War Department is concerned, and I see no reason for recommending a change.