§ MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that on the 9th October, when the crisis in the Near East occurred, only three out of the six battleships of the Mediterranean Fleet were ready for sea; whether this contravenes the Memorandum issued to Parliament to the effect that not more than one battleship of the Mediterranean Fleet should be in dockyard hands or away from it at a time; and whether he is also aware that out of the eight cruisers mentioned in the Navy List only two were fit to accompany the three battleships to sea.
§ MR. MCKENNAWith the exception of one battleship under refit, there was nothing to prevent all the vessels proceeding on service in case of emergency; and the sufficient number of vessels which were required proceeded on the service ordered without delay.
§ MR. ASHLEYAm I to understand that every ship except that one was ready at Malta to sail on twelve hours notice?
§ MR. MCKENNAYes, Sir.
§ MR. BELLAIRSWhen the right hon. Gentleman says all were ready, were not two of the cruisers at home in England?
§ MR. MCKENNAAll were ready that were out there. The question only deals with those at Malta.
§ MR. ASHLEYIs it not a fact that one of the cruisers was in dockyard hands, and were not the boilers of two of the battleships defective?
§ MR. MCKENNAIt is true that some of the machinery of the ships was defective, but those defects would not have prevented those ships going to sea at once.