§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked how many battleships and cruisers of the "Dreadnought" and "Invincible" types would have been completed by the summer of this year; and how many would have been commissioned within twenty-four months of the laying of the first keel plate?
§ Mr. McKENNASeven battleships and three cruisers. Of these two battleships will have, been commissioned within twenty-four months of the laying of the first keel plate.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked what is the number of battleships required at the present time for the maintenance of the two-Power standard as officially interpreted?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt would be difficult to give a precise figure without entering upon a calculation of the degree of effective power which would entitle one battleship to be reckoned as a proportionate unit of strength in relation to another, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the present number of British battleships is more than sufficient.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean it sustains the two-Power standard as interpreted by the Prime Minister in 1908?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir, and much more.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWhat are the views of the Government with regard to the two-Power standard?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe question put to me was as to the maintenance of the two-Power standard as officially interpreted. That official interpretation has been frequently given.
§ Mr. ASHLEYIs the official interpretation the one given last November twelve months or that given last April?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is the one given by the Prime Minister in this House and repeated by myself.
§ Mr. LEEWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by saying the number of battleships is more than sufficient?
§ Mr. McKENNASpeaking for the moment, I said the number was more than sufficient because we are building more in order to keep pace with the foreign ships now being built.