§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state when the remaining battleship of the 1901 or last year's programme is to be commenced.
(Answer.) All the battleships of the 1901–2 programme have already been commenced. The keel of one of them (H.M.S. "Commonwealth," for which the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company are the contractors) has not yet been laid, but it is expected to be laid within the next few days, and a considerable amount of casting and other preliminary work has already been done in connection with the vessel.—(Admiralty.)