§ SIR JOHN HAYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If he will state whether any change has been made in the programme for ironclad ship-building and repair since the last Return; if so, if he will state it, and also the names of the ironclad ships to be repaired at the Home Dockyards and at Malta respectively, with the dates at which they are likely to be out of hand?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, it would not be convenient to the House, nor would it be possible, without a very serious inroad on its time and practice, for me to give, in answer to this Question, full particulars of the prospect of the iron-clad shipbuilding programme of the year; and I would ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to wait until the Navy Estimates are moved, when there will be the usual opportunity of reviewing the matter. I may say, however, generally, that, although the Egyptian operations have necessarily' caused some disturbance of our arrangements, the programme both for the building and the repair of ironclad ships will, I believe, be fairly fulfilled, although there are a few instances of delay, chiefly on account of armament fittings. The ships belonging to the Mediterranean Squadron which require repair will have the work done in the Dockyard at Malta.