§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked when the 12 destroyers of the German 1907–8 programme were laid down, and when they were completed for sea; and when the five British destroyers of the same year's, programme were laid down?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe destroyers of the German 1907–8 programme were laid down between April, 1907, and the end of that year. They were completed between December, 1907, and December, 1908. The actual dates of ordering of the five British destroyers are:—
"Nubian" 6th January, 1908 "Viking" 20th February, 1908 "Crusader" 6th January, 1908 "Maori" 20th February, 1908 "Zulu" 25th February, 1908
§ Mr. ASHLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman explain why it takes us 16 months to build destroyers, when the Germans, as stated in his answer, can build them in from nine to 12 months?
§ Mr. McKENNAI did not state that in my answer. I said that they were laid down between April and December in one year and completed between then and December in the next year. That gives a margin of 21 months.