HC Deb 24 May 1909 vol 5 c816
Mr. ASHLEY

asked whether any ships included in the Dilke Return, published on Friday week last, have since the date of that Return been placed upon the sale list or in any other way discarded as ineffective; and, if so, what ships have been so dealt with?

Mr. McKENNA

It has been decided to dispose of H.M.S. "Hornet," and possibly one other destroyer, but with these exceptions no vessels included in the recent Dilke Return have been discarded as ineffective. With regard to foreign countries, as stated in the reply given on Thursday last to the hon. Member for the Andover Division, all that we know about withdrawals of ships since the date of the Return referred to in the question is that the French Minister of Marine has announced the intended withdrawal from the effective list of four second-class cruisers, three third-class cruisers, one torpedo vessel, and two submarines.