MAJOR ANSTRUTIIER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the sea-going squadrons are to be reduced by six first-class battleships and four armoured cruisers, thus reducing the battleships at sea in full commission from 1414 thirty-two to twenty-six, and the cruisers from twenty-one to seventeen, and the first line of defence by one-fifth.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI have nothing to add to the replies which I have already given to the hon. and learned Member for the Walton Division of Liverpool on 14th November, and to the hon. Member for Brighton on 31st October.†
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEWill the right hon. Gentleman consult his colleagues with regard to the advisability of issuing a fuller and reasoned explanation of the recent change of policy in view of the fact that the very brief statement made to the Press has, as I think the right hon. Gentleman knows, been very much misunderstood? If the right hon. Gentleman would do so, it would greatly relieve him of criticism.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI will consider that.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)May I ask whether the Admiralty consider that a ship not in full commission, but belonging to the Home Fleet, is as available and useful as a part of the striking force as a ship in full commission?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI do not think I can answer that question at a moment's notice. It is the belief of the Admiralty that the redistribution will add to the striking force of the Fleet.