§ Mr. ASHLEYasked what was the designed speed of the destroyers provided for in the Estimates of 1908–9, 1909–10, and 1910–11; and what was the designed speed of the destroyers provided for in the corresponding German Estimates?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt could not be reconciled with the public interest to give detailed statements as to the speed of British destroyers. Nothing is known officially as regards the speeds of German destroyers nor of the conditions under which their trial speeds are obtained.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman unofficially know that the German destroyers are at least seven knots an hour faster than ours?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI should not like to go into any question of what I know; I only give to the House official information.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that these German destroyers are seven knots an hour faster than ours?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. I neither deny nor accept the statement. It should, I think, be assumed that the Admiralty of any country will, in the completion of a ship of any particular type, carry the vessel out on the most approved pattern. We are quite satisfied that the type of destroyers which we have for our purposes is the best, and there has not been any other consideration except what the Admiralty experts considered to be the best taken into account.