§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is intended to take a Supplementary Estimate in order to replace as 9 soon as possible the first-class battle-ship Victoria?
*THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH, Lancashire, Clitheroe)It is not thought necessary at present to take any special steps to replace the Victoria otherwise than by pressing on the completion of the battle-ships which are already building.
§ MR. HANBURYBut these battleships were not intended to replace the Victoria. Do I understand that the Admiralty have deliberately decided to lose a whole year before endeavouring to replace this valuable vessel?
*SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe hon. Member seems not to be aware that the Mediterranean Fleet, and indeed all our squadrons, are at their full strength. The British Fleet has not such a narrow margin as to render it necessary to rush into the construction of a new vessel immediately on the loss of one ship.
*MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)As the right hon. Gentleman states that our fleets are at their full complement, will he inform the House what vessels have replaced the Sultan, the Howe, the Camperdown, and the Warspite in the fleets of which they formed a part?
*SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI cannot, of course, answer such a question at a moment's notice, but I may say that another vessel has replaced the Warspite as flagship on the Pacific Station, and that each of the other ships named has been similarly replaced.