§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that five battleships, which are described as first-class battleships in the recent Return (Fleets of the Powers) issued to Parliament, were, in the last Statement of Admiralty Policy,, issued by Lord Cawdor in November,, 1905, characterised as so defective that even if two millions were spent on them the nation would merely have acquired indifferent ships, three-quarters worn out,, and so poorly protected as to be vulnerable to second-class cruisers; and whether he can explain how these vessels came to be included in a Return which has been widely quoted as showing our great strength in first-class battleships.
(Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) Ships whose armaments have not been surrendered or reduced are classified in this Return as heretofore.