§ Mr. FRANCEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can announce the date on which he expects to be able to secure that all types of submarines will be fitted with the latest and most complete form of apparatus for saving life and mitigating the dangers of this branch of the Service?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)Nearly all the submarines; are fitted with arrangements for providing the crew with a possible means of escape from the vessel. Up to the present it has not been practicable to fit this in the A Class. Experiments have just been carried out with an improved apparatus, which will enable the appliance to be fitted in this class. It is hoped that the supply and fitting will be complete in about two months.
§ Mr. FRANCEAre those who go to sea in the A class at present running exceptional danger?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt depends upon the views taken of the utility of the apparatus.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONMay I ask whether any form of appliance can conceivably prevent danger?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOh, no.