§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why, in view of the fact that all the twelve German destroyers of the 1910–11 programme had been commissioned and completed their trials by the end of 1911, there are only seven of ours of the same programme out of a total of twenty now in service?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLEight of the twenty torpedo-boat destroyers named in the question have already been delivered, and apart from any influence the coal strike may have, nine more are expected to be delivered by the end of April next. Apart from the labour troubles of 1910, there is no reason for doubting that all twenty 359 boats would have been delivered by the present time ready for service in His Majesty's Fleet.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWhy do we take so much longer to build destroyers than the Germans do?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think that is the case. The dates on which the vessels are laid down of course determine the date on which they are completed. In some cases our boats have been begun later in the year.