§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admir- 1658 alty whether all the orders for protected cruisers of the improved "Boadicea" type which the Government intend placing at this time have now been placed; if so, will he say how many have been ordered from Clyde shipbuilders; are these vessels to be fitted with Yarrow or with Babcock boilers; and will he state the comparative merits of the type of boiler chosen.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. Three of the vessels ordered are to be built on the Clyde. The ships will be fitted with Yarrow boilers. It is not desirable to make such a statement as is suggested in the last part of the Question.