§ Captain Kerbyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, in the Guide to Navy Estimates, 1958–59, the total of cruisers in the Royal Navy is given as 16, of destroyers, 59, of frigates, 125, of minesweepers, 211, including 42 ocean type, and of fleet support ships, 88, whereas in the Explanatory Statement to the Estimates, the total of cruisers is given as 15, of destroyers, 56, of frigates, 105, of minesweepers, 208, including 39 ocean type, and of fleet 33W support ships, 96; which of these statements is correct; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AllanI presume the Question refers to a roneoed sheet headed "Guide to Navy Estimates" which was given out to members of the Press attending a conference in the Admiralty on the day the Navy Estimates were published. This contained some errors in adding up the total of ships, which were pointed out to the Press at the time. The corrected figures tallied with those given in the Explanatory Statement. As the roneoed sheet was circulated to journalists only no further action was or is considered necessary.