§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that for some time past six submarines of the Harwich flotilla have been in dockyard hands at Sheerness; whether that flotilla consists nominally of nine vessels; how long the six vessels referred to have been in dockyard hands; and whether it is in accordance with official ideas of readiness for war that 66 per cent. of a flotilla should be in dockyard hands at one time?
§ Mr. McKENNASix of the nine submarines of the Harwich flotilla were in dockyard hands together at Sheerness from 12th March to 24th April last. Three of them were taken in hand on 11th December, 1908, and three on 12th March last. The hon. Gentleman will excuse me if I refrain from taking up time by replying to the satire contained in the last part of his question.