§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked if the First Lord of the Admiralty adheres to the statement made by his predecessor, in debate, on 18th March, 1909, that the rate of construction in Germany for vessels of the "Dreadnought" type is almost if not quite equal to our own?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)I have examined carefully the passages in Hansard in which the statement referred to occurs. I find that my right hon. Friend was speaking of the potential and not of the actual rate of construction—a very important distinction. I have already given my hon. Friend very full information as to the actual rates of British and German construction.