§ Mr. LONSDALEasked how many of the cruisers and other craft which were scrapped in 1904–5, on the ground that they had no serious military value, were still in service or figured in the effective list?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)No vessels which were scrapped in 1904–5 are still in the service. The hon. Gentleman probably refers to Return No. 74 of 1905, showing the vessels struck off the list of effective ships of war. None of the vessels in that list had any serious military value, but there are altogether 44 of them which are now, or may be in the future, employed on subsidiary naval service, and are now or may be shown in the list of the navy accordingly. A nominal return of them, together with the purposes for which they are or may be appropriated, will be circulated with the printed papers. [See Written Answers this date.]
§ Mr. LONSDALEDid the right hon. Gentleman say that the ships are still on the effective list?
§ Mr. McKENNAThey are not on the effective list as effective ships of war, but they are performing subsidiary services in the Navy.
§ Mr. BELLAIRSWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that none of these vessels were "scrapped," is it not the case that the Prime Minister and the First Lord of the Admiralty of the day described them as "scrapped"?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no knowledge whether the word was used by the then Prime Minister or First Lord of the Admiralty; if it was, I venture to say that it was rather a loose use of the word.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise on this question.