§ MR. COWAN (Surrey, Guildford)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships and armoured cruisers are there now under construction for the: British, French, and German navies re-spectively; and how many additional vessels of these two classes are already sanctioned to be laid down this year by each of these countries.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThere are at present under construction, for the British Navy, six battleships and ten armoured cruisers; for the French Navy, six battleships and five armoured cruisers; for the Gorman Navy, five battleships and two armoured cruisers. The programme of new construction in the Estimates now before the House includes provision for four armoured vessels. The German Estimates for the current year include provision for two battleships and one armoured cruiser; and the French Estimates include provision for six battleships.