§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREhad given notice "To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that information has been received that orders have been placed for the German programme of 1909–10, and that work on them is being rapidly advanced, he will submit to the House a Supplementary Vote to hasten the construction of our own destroyers for the current programme." The hon. Member said: There is an error in the printing of this question. It should read "whether in view of the fact that information has been received that orders have been placed for the torpedo-boat destroyers provided in the German programme," etc. I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman can answer it in its altered form.
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)Yes; I read the question as it is printed on the paper, and as a matter of fact in reply to a previous question of the hon. Gentleman in reference to German destroyers my recollection is that I said that we had no official information as to what had been done in Germany with regard to destroyers.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREThat is true, but my question refers to the unanswered part of my previous question, viz., whether the Government are prepared to take any steps to push on the construction of our own destroyers for the current programme?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, sir; the reply to that part of the question is in the negative.