§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any, and, if so, what, reduction has been made in the number of merchant cruisers subsidised by the Admiralty; whether the conditions upon which these vessels have been or are so subsidised are in all cases the same; and whether he can briefly state these conditions or will lay a copy of the contract upon the Table?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON, Dundee)There has been practically no-reduction in the number of subsidised merchant cruisers except in the two Inman Line steamers transferred to the American Flag. The Cunard vessel Etruria will be taken off the paid list in 1894, and arrangements are in progress for the two new Cunard steamers to be put on the paid list in lieu of the Etruria and Umbria with, of course, an increased subsidy. The subsidised conditions are-similar. The Regulations for the subvention of merchant cruisers have been made public from the beginning, and I shall be happy to give the hon. Gentleman a copy.
§ MR. HANBURYWhy is the subsidy larger?
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONBecause the steamers are bigger.