§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been called to a statement published in the newspapers, on the authority of the noble Lord the gallant Member for East Marylebone, and also to an Amendment on Supply standing in his name, to the effect that no fewer than sixty-nine ships figuring in Her Majesty's Navy are only fit to be sold, broken up, or blown up immediately; and, whether the Government will consent to lay upon the Table of the House a Return giving the names of such vessels, and their tonnage in each case; the date at which each ship was launched; the total cost in each case; and the name of the designer of each such ship respectively?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. HIBBERT) (Oldham), in reply, said, his attention had been called to the terms of the noble Lord's Motion. He thought a Return of detailed information on the subject would not be worth the labour its preparation would involve; and therefore he hoped the hon. Member would not press the matter.