§ SIR EDWARD WATKINasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he will inform the House how much money has been expended in altering (from first construction) the "Devastation," the "Invincible" and her sister ships, the "Inconstant" and her sister ships, and the "Sultan" and her sister ships; and, what was the general object of the alterations, and what responsible officer 271 or officers advised that the alterations should be made?
§ MR. HUNTI am unable, Sir, to state to the House the amount of expenditure as asked for by the hon. Gentleman. It would take much clerical labour and a very considerable time to make out such an account. An explanation of the object of the more important alterations will be found in the Report of the evidence given before the Committee on Designs of Ships appointed in 1871, to which I would beg to refer the hon. Gentleman. The alterations were ordered to be made on the advice of the Controller and the officers of the Constructor's Department.