§ MR. JAMES HOPE (Sheffield, Bright-side)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state if any orders for armour plate have been given out by the Admiralty in respect of the battleships and armoured cruisers arranged to be laid down in the current financial year.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe only armour for which orders were given during the current financial year was that for the "Queen," "Prince of Wales," "Challenger," and some of the cruisers of the "Monmouth" class. No armour has yet been ordered for the battleships and armoured cruisers arranged to be laid down in the current financial year. Special steps, however, have been taken to issue the tenders for the armour required at the earliest possible date.