§ MR. YERBURGHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the accepted life of a battleship being twenty-five years, it is the case that in 1907 five first and second-class battleships, appearing in the Admiralty Return of fleets just issued, will have exceeded this life limit; and whether, to replace such ships in the said year, it would be necessary to lay down five ships in the year.
§ MR. PRETYMANNo rule is laid down as to the accepted life of a battleship; but in the Return of Fleets just issued there are six battleships, viz., one first-class, four second, and one third, which will have either attained or exceeded twenty-five years life (from date 1377 of launching) in 1907. The point raised in the last part of my hon. friend's Question was fully considered in settling the shipbuilding programme of the present year.