§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the annual allowance of ammunition to His Majesty's ships for the preparation for and carrying out of gun-layers' tests, the preparation for and carrying out of battle practice, and all other purposes respectively; and whether he can give the House the corresponding figures for the German fleet?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe total allowance of service ammunition is 16 rounds per gun for 10-inch and above, 32 rounds for 9.2 1010 inch to 12-pounder, and 40 rounds for 6 and 3-pounders. Sub-calibre, 160 rounds per turret gun and 20 for other guns. Aiming rifle, 400 rounds per gun. No definite number of rounds is allowed for the gun-layers' tests, each nature of gun firing for a specified time. It is considered undesirable in the public interest to publish the number of rounds fired at battle practice. We have no official information as to the allowances of ammunition in the German Navy.