§ Mr. YERBURGHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a report of the Italian Minister of Marine to the Italian Parliament to the effect that the life of the British wire-wound big gun is far shorter than the life of the built-up big guns of the Austrian and German navies; and whether he is prepared to make any statement to the House as to the durability of our wire-wound big guns?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe report has been received. I am advised that it would not be in the public interest to make any statement on this matter. The information given in the report as to the probable life of British guns is quite inaccurate. No ground for dissatisfaction or anxiety exists.