§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the armoured cruiser "Minotaur" had been detached from the First Cruiser Squadron and sent to the Far East, and had not been replaced in the First Division of the Home Fleet, he would state whether it was the intention of the Admiralty also to reduce the Second Cruiser Squadron by one ship in order to preserve the numerical equality of the two divisions of the Home Fleet?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)The reply is in the negative.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to retain the present proportion of five to four ships?.
§ Mr. McKENNANo, sir. There is not the same number at the present time. I do not quite follow the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREIn the past there has been a proportion of five to five—an equal proportion. Does he propose to permanently maintain that—the First Cruiser Squadron being four and the Second Cruiser Squadron five at present?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot say that this proportion will be permanent, but at the present moment there is no intention of altering existing numbers.