§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether in view of the fact that the information given under Vote 9 has been curtailed, while the Vote for guns has been reduced from £915,000 last year to £690,000 this year, and the Vote for projectiles, ammunition, torpedoes, and gun-cotton is now £1,182,000, whereas in 1901–2 it was £2,405,300, he can give the House an assurance that the reserve of heavy guns in the case of the "Dreadnought" and "Invincible" classes will not be reduced below the figure officially given as one heavy gun for every four mounted on board, and that stocks of projectiles, ammunition, torpedoes, and gun-cotton are not being reduced below what has been customary in former years.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. Edmund Robertson,) DundeeAs has been previously stated, it is considered undesirable in the public interest that statements should be made regarding the reserve of guns and other ordnance stores, but the assurance asked for can be given.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)Does the reduced quantity of ammunition also mean a reduced allowance for practice?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI would rather not answer that Question without notice.
§ MR. BELLAIRSCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the reserve will not fall below that which formerly existed?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI have given the assurance asked for by the hon. Member, and I cannot do more.