HC Deb 22 December 1893 vol 20 c210
COMMANDER BETHELL (York, E.R., Holderness)

On behalf of the hon. Member for West, Belfast, I bog to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the statement that our position in the Mediterranean was secured by our possessing a preponderance of first-class battleships in the proportion of 19 to 10, whether such preponderance actually exists in the Mediterranean; whether he is aware that, of the 19 ironclads referred to, 4 wore on the 19th December at Arosa Bay, 600 miles from Gibraltar, and six others were lying incompleted at Portsmouth and Chatham Dockyards, 1,100 and 1,300 miles respectively from Gibraltar; and whether any steps will be taken to strengthen the Naval Forces in the Mediterranean?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby

It is a matter of policy for the Admiralty to decide how the ships of England can be distributed and where they shall be placed. Any other information it would be injurious to give; and I therefore cannot make a more particular statement on this subject.

COMMANDER BETHELL

Was the statement that the proportion was 19 to 10 intended to refer to the state of affairs in the Mediterranean at present or to the Navy as a whole?

SIR W. HARCOURT

To the Navy as a whole.