16. Dr. Bennettasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the impending closure of the garrison church attached to the Royal Naval Air Station, Gosport, by reason of the withdrawal of the naval chaplain; if he is aware that this church, established some 80 years, is possessed of civilian endowments and serves a civil as well as a naval population; that the Service population in this area will not be diminishing on the closing of the aerodrome; and if he will make provision for the continued functioning of this church in the New Year, notably in respect of its widely-attended Sunday school, either by the appointment of a naval chaplain or by arrangement with the Church of England authorities.
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§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasI am aware of this problem, and the Chaplain of the Fleet is at present in correspondence with the diocesan authorities about the best way of solving it.