§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is correct that serious defects have been reported regarding the hull of the armoured cruiser Warspite, flagship on the Pacific station; if so, can he state the nature of the defects, and the time likely to be occupied in repairing them, and if it is true that the Admiralty have asked for 12 shipwrights and four caulkers to be sent from Sheerness; and, if so, why, seeing that there are Government Yards at Halifax and Esquimault?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. FORWOOD,) Lancashire, OrmskirkLeakages have developed between the teak sheathing and the outer iron skin of the ship, which require examination, and, as it is a work of a very special character, it was considered, in the interests of economy and efficiency, desirable to send out men specially acquainted with that class of work. The Admiralty establishment at Esquimalt is very limited in extent.