§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty when the orders for armour were placed and the manufacture commenced of the armour which was required for the armoured cruisers of the 1901 programme.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)The armour for the six new armoured cruisers of the 1901–02 programme was provisionally ordered on the 12th August last, and the orders were confirmed on the 3rd September. The manufacture of the armour was immediately commenced by the armour plate makers.