§ MR. NIELD (Middlesex, Ealing)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the extension of the time fixed for the completion of the armoured cruiser "Defence," in order to prevent undue fluctuation of work in the yard, is an innovation; and, if not, in how many instances during the last five years has the completion of a ship been delayed for a similar purpose; and whether a similar concession is granted in the case of a ship under construction in private yards.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe reply to the first part of the Question is 1150 in the affirmative, and to the last part of the Question in the negative.