§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether in 1904 the whole of the guns in the naval and marine gunnery training establishments were part of the reserve guns of the Fleet; whether he is aware that about two years ago nearly the whole of these guns were withdrawn and their places taken by specially made cast-iron guns; and whether the reserve of guns is now less in proportion to the guns afloat than it was before these guns were withdrawn.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON,) DundeeThe reply to the first Question is in the negative. Only 24 per cent, of these guns were then included in the reserve. As regards the second Question, only a portion of the guns belonging to these establishments were withdrawn for fleet use, and replaced by cast-iron guns for drill purposes. As regards the third Question, the reserve remains unaltered.