HC Deb 21 February 1898 vol 53 c1198
MR. J. H. YOXALL (Nottingham, W.)

; I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether H.M.S. Victorious belongs to a class of ships not intended in the ordinary course to pass through the Suez Canal; and, if so, whether he is at liberty to state the reason why a ship of the Canopus class, of a draught specially intended for the purpose, was not sent instead?

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.

The Victorious belongs to a class of ship which is intended to go wherever required, including the Suez Canal. None of the Canopus class are yet ready for service.

MR. YOXALL

Is it not a fact that under the contract the Admiralty had power to enforce the completion of ships of the Canopus class long before this time?

[No Reply.]