§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether structural weakness has developed in His Majesty's Ship "Invincible" to such an extent that, through outside pressure, water finds its way into the compartments reserved for oil?
§ Mr. McKENNANo structural weakness is known to have developed in His Majesty's Ship "Invincible."
§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, through structural weakness, the roller plates under the turrets of His Majesty's ship "Invincible" have given out, making it impossible to train all guns on one beam, fire them, and then train all guns on the other beam immediately and fire them, as may be necessary in action; and whether the ship will be ready in full commission for active service in three months from 1st March, 1911?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative—and to the second part in the affirmative.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he has any reason to modify the official statement made that no signs of structural weakness had been shown by His Majesty's Ship "Invincible"; whether when she was recently about to be docked portions of the longitudinal framing were removed; whether on docking the ship signs of structural weakness were apparent to such an extent that pumping out the dock had to be stopped; whether the ship was refloated, taken out 401W of dock, and the portions of the longitudinal framing which were removed replaced, the ship being re-docked afterwards without any further signs of buckling; and whether it is intended, owing to a structural weakness, to strengthen the longitudinals?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is no reason to modify the statement that no structural weakness has been shown by His Majesty's ship "Invincible." No portions of longitudinal framing have been removed. No signs of structural weakness were observed on docking. It is not intended to strengthen the longitudinals.