§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked how many torpedo-boat destroyers there are in the Home Fleet reserve flotillas at Portsmouth, Devonport, and the Nore, respectively; and how many vessels from each division were able to leave their ports last month to carry out gunnery exercises preparatory to battle practice?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe strength of the nucleus-crew destroyer flotillas in destroyers last month was as follows:—
These number exclude coastal destroyers.
Nore Flotilla 22 destroyers (excluding "Eden" temporarily completed to full crew for service in the First Flotilla). Portsmouth Flotilla 25 destroyers. Devonport Flotilla 20 destroyers. The number which actually left their ports to carry out gunnery exercises was:—
The hon. Gentleman must not assume from this that no others were able to leave, as some of them were engaged in instructional duties, and others had their gunnery exercises arranged for a later date.
Nore Flotilla 9 Portsmouth Flotilla 13 Devonport Flotilla 4
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREAs a matter of fact, are not a large number of those which were detained what are colloquially called "lame ducks"?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, not properly described as "lame ducks."