§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, under the new scheme of fleet distribution which came into operation in March last, the number of fully commissioned battleships in Home waters was reduced from 26 to 22 and armoured cruisers from 16 to 14; and whether there was any corresponding reduction in the readiness for war of Foreign fleets to justify this reduction on our part '
§ Mr McKENNAAssuming that the Atlantic Fleet in March last is to be included in the fleets in Home waters, the reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. I may add, however, that the actual fighting strength of the Home waters force is greater than before.