HC Deb 13 July 1910 vol 19 c345
Mr. MIDDLEMORE

asked what is the number of completed sea-going battleships in the British Navy, and by how many does this figure exceed the number required, according to official calculations, to maintain a 10 per cent. superiority over the completed sea-going battleships in the German and in the United States navies?

Mr. McKENNA

The hon. Gentleman will find the information he desires in the Return ordered on the Motion of my right hon. Friend the Member for the Forest of Dean.

Mr. DILLON

Do the Government accept the implication in the question that England has to build against Germany and the United States?

Mr. McKENNA

In the case of questions of this kind that is an implication I endeavour to avoid.

Mr. MIDDLEMORE

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman be gracious enough to really answer my question, so that the ordinary Member can understand what are the relative numbers?

Mr. McKENNA

I hope the hon. Member will excuse me, but he very frequently asks me to answer questions which would involve the reading out of pages of a Return which is available. That Return is published for the information of Members of this House and the public, and I do not think I ought to take up the time of Parliament by reading it.