§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the proposed new circular boilers for the County class of ships are to be designed for forced or natural draught; and whether he has any objection to make the specification of these boilers public.
§ MR. PRETYMANThe proposed cylindrical boilers for the new ships of the County class will be designed for use with closed stokeholes in the case of one half of the ships, and for use with closed ashpits in the other half. It is not usual to publish the further details asked for in the Question.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)Are the boilers designed for forced or natural draught?
§ MR. PRETYMANI have said they are designed for use with closed stokeholes and ashpits.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANBut is it to be forced draught?
§ MR. PRETYMANThe answer implies that.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANWith the circular boilers?
§ MR. PRETYMANYes.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANThen I beg to state that they are very badly designed.