COLONEL WELBYI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Imperial Defence Committee is of opinion that our Fleets can safeguard the United Kingdom, under all circumstances of war, against invasion by raiding or by larger forces; if not, what authoritative calculation they have arrived at of the number of troops, not liable to be serving abroad when such invasion may occur, necessary for defence.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester. E. )In answer to my hon. and gallant friend I have to say that, in the opinion of the Defence Com- 1394 mittee, invasion for the purposes of conquest of these islands is an impossibility. The question of raids is a less important one, and is also a more complicated one, and I should hardly like to give an opinion on the subject by way of Question and Answer across the floor of the House; but I think I may go the length of informing my hon. and gallant friend that they are not a source of serious anxiety to His Majesty's Government.
COLONEL WELBYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we are to accept the figures supplied by the War Office to the Norfolk Commission?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid I must ask for notice of that Question.