First Lord of the Admiralty (Mediterranean Visit)

HC Deb 20 December 1956 vol 562 c220W

67. Mr. Jay

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the purpose of the recent visit of the First Lord of the Admiralty to the Mediterranean.

Mr. Ward

My right hon. and noble Friend was paying his first official visit to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. The principal objects of such visits are to meet senior naval officers and discuss local problems, to inspect ships and establishments and to speak to ships' companies, units of the Royal Marines, and civilian employees. In this instance, there was the additional object of looking at the progress of the salvage work at Port Said, and saying a word of well-earned praise and encouragement to the crews of the naval and civilian-manned salvage vessels.