29. Sir GILBERT PARKERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the expenditure on the Navy in 1887; what was the personnel; what was the number of battleships and cruisers, respectively; and what was the tonnage of the largest battleship of that day?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe expenditure (net) on the Navy in the financial year 1887–88 was £12,348,895. The personnel in that year—numbers borne 31st March, 1888, Vote A—was 62,442. The battleships were thirty-seven, and cruisers, including all classes, fifty-three. The tonnage of the largest battleship was 11,880.