§ LORD G. HAMILTON (Middlesex, Ealing)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if orders have been sent to the dockyards to commence the battleships which were to be laid down this year; and, if so, if he would be good enough to lay upon the Table a Memorandum containing the same information concerning these ships as was given to the late Parliament in reference to the battle-ships in the Naval Defence Act?
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONThe orders have not yet been given to the dockyards to commence the battle-ships to be laid down this year. The design is not yet completed. When completed the fullest particulars which can be given consistently with the public interest will be furnished.