§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the Official Reports of Parliamentary Proceedings for 14th November he is reported to have stated that only five German battleships have been laid down or are projected for the period 1905–7, inclusive, whereas the number given should have been six; and whether he will cause an amended Answer to be circulated.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe error mentioned was due to a slip of the pen in the original Answer. It was corrected in a letter to the hon. Member who put the Question, which appeared in the 116 Press early in August. As the Answer was not printed in The Parliamentary Debates at the usual time, I anticipated that no report would be printed, and that no further correction was necessary. I am informed by the official reporter, however, that by the personal intervention of the hon. Member for King's Lynn—who put the Question in the first instance—some three months after he had received my correction, the belated and inaccurate report was actually printed on 14th November, without reference to me. Under the circumstances I do not see that any further notice is necessary.