§ MR. NIELDI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there are three new armoured ships approaching completion for which there are no crews; and whether there are more than a dozen battleships lying at the Channel ports because it has not been found possible to form crews to man them for use in the pending manœuvres or to obtain the men for the purpose.
§ MR. MCKENNACrews are ready for all armoured ships approaching completion. There are fourteen battleships in home waters not taking part in the manœuvres:—"Implacable," undergoing refit; thirteen older battleships of the "Royal Sovereign," "Renown," "Centurion," and "Trafalgar" classes, and on the special service list. 1652 These vessels are not required for the manœuvres. Should it be desirable to commission these ships, the necessary ratings for nucleus crews of active service men are available; the balance of the crews can be completed by calling out reserves.