HC Deb 31 March 1938 vol 333 cc2200-2W
Mr. Parker

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the recent visit of the First Sea Lord to the Home Fleet flagship at Gibraltar was an official or private one; whether the cruiser "Cornwall" was specially sent to Marseilles to fetch him; if so, what was the cost of the voyage; and why he did not go direct by sea?

Mr. Shakespeare

The recent visit of the First Sea Lord to the Home and Mediterranean Fleets was, of course, an official one. No mail steamer was sailing for Gibraltar when it was possible for the First Sea Lord to leave London, and it was necessary, therefore, for him to proceed overland to Marseilles where he embarked in His Majesty's Ship "Cornwall" which was at the time concluding a cruise to French Riviera ports and was about to re-join the Fleet at Gibraltar. No expenditure of fuel additional to the annual allowance for the "Cornwall" was involved.