HC Deb 14 May 1924 vol 173 c1315
9. Mr. EMLYN-JONES

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the stock of torpedoes numbering 8,507, valued by the Admiralty in 1921 at £14,500,000, is still maintained; and if the recommendation of the Geddes Committee that the rate of manufacture of new torpedoes should be reduced has been carried into effect?

Mr. AMMON

The figures as to numbers and value of torpedoes which the hon. Member quotes from the Geddes Committee's Report were arrived at by adding together torpedoes of all sorts of different types, old and new, and treating them as all being equally available for the use of ships of the post-War Fleet. This was an entire fallacy, which was exposed at the time in the Admiralty reply. The stock of torpedoes maintained for the Naval Service is that which is regarded as sufficient for present practice and future needs, and the rate of manufacture since the War has been carefully regulated to what is necessary to meet these requirements.

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