§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether more Havocks have been ordered by the Admiralty than are provided for in the Estimates; and whether the amount assigned in the Estimates for 1893–4 for vessels of the Havock class will be exceeded?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe answer to the first paragraph is, Yes. The fact that the amount provided in the Estimates would be exceeded was made known to Parliament in August last in connection with the decision to postpone the commencement of the Terrible, and thus make it possible to hasten the construction of torpedo-boat destroyers.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTMay I ask whether any of the money which was assigned in the Estimates to the construction of first-class battleships has been appropriated for this purpose?