§ MR. A. B. FORWOOD (Lancashire, Ormskirk)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the number of first and second class battleships now being built or preparing to be built by England, France, and Russia respectively, not included in Parliamentary Return (Navies, England and other Countries) No. 465, of December, 1883.
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON, Dundee)Since the date of the Return of December, 1893, seven battleships have been commenced in this country, while in France the Henri IV. has been given up, and another battleship will be laid down in 1895; and in Russia, the Paris will be proceeded with.