§ MR. BELLAIRSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has completed his investigations into the discrepancy by which fifteen cruisers, omitted from the list of ships of the Navy on page 270d of the Navy List for many months past, are yet included in the Return of Fleets (Great Britain and Foreign Countries); and whether all these ships were set aside two years ago as not worth the cost of repairs and maintenance.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe armament of the fifteen cruisers to which my hon. friend refers has not been surrendered, and the vessels would be 1226 available for service if required. As vessels of equal or less value appear in the lists of foreign navies, it was considered that for purposes of comparison these cruisers might properly be included in the Return referred to. As, however, these ships are not in commission and no appointments are being made to them, it is convenient to show them under a separate heading in the Navy List. With regard to the last part of the Question, I can only refer my hon. friend to the statement made in this House by the then Secretary to the Admiralty on the 6th March, 1905.†
§ MR. BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that while cruisers are omitted battleships are included in the List?
§ [No Answer was returned.]