§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what alteration, if any, has been made as regards the proximity of the magazines to the boilers in the designs for the vessels now building or to be built for the Navy, as compared with those constructed in recent years?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe magazines in the Majestic and Magnificent will be placed before and abaft the machinery and boiler-spaces, and therefore will not be in close proximity to the boilers, as in most of the large battleships recently constructed.
§ MR. HANBURYMay I ask whether the Admiralty have received any communications with regard to the danger of putting cordite into the magazines of battleships, and whether the attention of the Admiralty has been drawn to a speech delivered by the Inspector General of Ordnance in January last in which he is reported to have said that the Admiralty will "either have to shift their magazines or stick to black powder."
*SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI ask for notice of part of that question. I may say, however, that I have not had my attention called to the speech referred to by the hon. Member. I may also mention that in cases where the magazines were close to the boilers special arrangements were made in order to reduce the temperature.
§ MR. HANBURYDoes that apply to existing ships?
*SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThose arrangements apply to existing ships recently built. With regard to the new ships, entirely new arrangements will be made.