§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH (Maidstone)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the reason why the Battle Practice Return has been issued before the whole Fleet have completed the practice.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThis annual return is published as early in the year as possible; but in some cases, where ships have been unable to complete their practice within the year, they must necessarily be omitted.
§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHCan the right hon. Gentleman state the names of the vessels omitted?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONNot off-hand, but I will get information for the noble Lord.
§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether in future years the Admiralty will arrange that the Battle Practice Return shall include a column denoting the weather conditions, and also the motion of the ship.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThis, with other suggestions, will be considered in the general revision of the return which takes place every year.
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burghs)When will the revision take place?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI cannot say.
§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHHow can you properly test the efficiency under the present system?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONasked for notice of that Question.