§ Sir J. D. REESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the programme of the Government as regards a flagship for the China and East India unit; whether The New Zealand "Dreadnought" is to take a permanent place in the North Sea Fleet; whether the programme of 1900 has, as regards the East India unit, been completely abandoned; and whether the Australian Fleet alone is in future to maintain the British position in the Pacific?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLBoth the China and East Indian squadrons are already provided with flagships, and no change is at present contemplated. The "New Zealand" will join the first battle cruiser squadron on her return from New Zealand ports in the summer of 1913. I have no further information to give on this subject. The answers to the third and fourth parts of the question are in the negative.