§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the whole of the 12 torpedo-boat destroyers of the German 1907-8 programme have been completed and passed into service; and whether he will give an approximate date on which the British destroyer "Afridi," of the 1906-7 programme, will be ready for service?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is probable that the "Afridi" will be ready to be passed into the service by about the end of June next.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that orders have been placed for the whole of the torpedo-boat destroyers provided for in the German programme of 1909-10, and that the construction of some of the vessels has already been begun; and whether, under the circumstances, he will ask the House for a Supplementary Vote in order that the amount to be spent on the destroyers of the current programme, which now stands at £5,400 per ship, may be materially increased?
§ Mr. McKENNAWe have no official in formation on this subject.