§ SIR BERKELEY SHEFFIELD (Lincolnshire, Brigg)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the official statistics furnished to the House on 9th July, 1906, showing that during the last Government's six years of office there were, on an average seventeen vessels of over 5,000 tons under construction in private yards on 1st April of each year; and whether he can state how many vessels of over 5,000 tons are at the moment being built for the Royal Navy in the private yards.
§ MR. MCKENNAI am unable to form an opinion as to which six years of office the hon. Member refers to in the first part of the Question. The reply to the second part of the Question is, five on the 1st of this month.