§ Lieut - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that it will only cost £7 to raise steam in a sloop, and £9 10s. to raise steam in flotilla leader, for the purpose of conveying the Board of Admiralty round the lines of warships at the forthcoming naval review, what other duties will be performed by the Admiralty yacht "Enchantress," at a cost of £1,100, other than conveying the Board of Admiralty round the lines of warships at the review; and 1342W why a sloop and/or flotilla leader cannot be used and money thus saved for the use of the fighting fleet?
§ Mr. HODGESMy hon. Friend has already stated, in reply to questions from the hon. and gallant Member and others, that His Majesty's Yacht "Enchantress" is to be used during her commission for the official inspection of the naval establishments at Portsmouth by the Board of Admiralty, and for taking a large number of official guests to the review as well as the Board of Admiralty themselves. The hon. and gallant Member is no doubt well aware that the cost of raising steam, which is the operation of preparing the machinery for moving, has no relevance to this matter. It should also be obvious to him that a sloop or flotilla leader could not be used for the conveyance of a large party of official guests, or for the accommodation of the Board of Admiralty for the performance of their official duties during the commission.