§ 8. Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many destroyers of the British and German programmes for 1911–12 are respectively launched and completed; and whether he is in a position to give the House details of the information laid before him in December last, as a result of which the destroyers of the 1912 programme were provisionally ordered before the close of the last financial year?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLTwo of the destroyers of the German 1911–12 programme were sold to Greece before they were delivered by the contractors. The two which are to replace these have not yet been launched. The remaining ten boats of the 1911–12 programme are completed. Six of the destroyers of the British programme for 1911–12 have been launched, but none yet completed; another will be launched to-morrow. With regard to the last part of the question. I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Blackpool Division of Lancashire on 28th February last.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREWhy has the right hon. Gentleman given Germany six or seven months' start of us?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not given anybody any start at all. All the destroyers have been laid down that are necessary for the margin required.