§ 43. Colonel BURNasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consider the question of giving the name "Torbay" to one of the new battleships or cruisers?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)No, Sir. Names have already been assigned to the battleships and cruisers of the present programme, and for the reasons which I have explained to the House in connection with the name "Plymouth," it is not the intention of the present Board of Admiralty to give names to His, Majesty's ships which might lead to confusion with harbours or naval bases.
§ 61. Lord C. BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state how many battleships are in full commission in home waters instantly ready at the present moment, giving their names; how many battle cruisers are in 475 full commission in home waters instantly ready at the present moment, giving their names; how many fully commissioned battleships and battle cruisers in home waters are in dockyard hands at the present moment giving their names; how many German battleships in home waters are in full commission instantly ready at the present moment, giving their names; how many German battle cruisers in home waters are in full commission instantly ready at the present moment, giving their names; and how many fully commissioned German battleships and battle cruisers in home waters are in dockyard hands at the present moment, giving their names?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI shall be quite willing if the Noble Lord will repeat his question in three months' time to state the position as it is to-day, but it is not desirable to make comparisons of current strength. I may observe, however, that meanwhile there is no ground for apprehension.