§ Sir BERKELEY SHEFFIELDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if, during the winter of 1907–8, the Admiralty received any information as to German preparations for the acceleration of her shipbuilding programme?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe expansion m Krupp's works and in the shipbuilding yards was well known to the Admiralty in the winter of 1907–8. A large expansion was necessary in view of the increased output required under the 1908 Amendment to the Fleet Bill, but we had no indication that there was any intention to anticipate the dates of construction laid down in that Amendment.