§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he can state how many vessels and what number of men of Her Majesty's Navy are armed with weapons of the same description as those of which complaints have been received from H.M.S. Indus; and, whether any, and which, of such vessels are engaged on active service?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)The pattern of the cutlasses with which the men in Her Majesty's Navy are armed is uniform throughout the Service; but there would appear to be a considerable difference in the quality and temper of the material which, from time to time, has been used in their manufacture. The Committee recently appointed, and now sitting, will ascertain how far this contention is true; and, if true, what is the cause of it.