§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships have been laid down in Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia in the period 1366 1900–4 inclusive, up to the autumn of 1904, when the present Navy Estimates were framed; what battleships had been sanctioned but not laid down in the four countries when the present Navy Estimates were framed; have any additional programmes for building battleships been brought forward or sanctioned in France, Germany, or Russia beyond what were under consideration when the Navy Estimates were framed; and, if so, what are those programmes.
§ *MR. PRETYMANThe number of battleships laid down in the period 1900–4 inclusive in Great Britain was thirteen; France, six; Germany, ten; Russia, six. The number sanctioned but not laid down, in November, 1904, was—Great Britain, two; France, nil; Russia, three; Germany, two each year 1905 to 1909 inclusive, one each year 1910 to 1912 and 1914 to 1916, and two each year in 1913 and 1917. No additional programmes for battleships have been brought forward since November, 1904, by France or Germany. A large new Russian shipbuilding programme is known to be under consideration, probably extending over a series of years, but the extent or date of commencement is not known.