§ Mr. BURGOYNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether tenders have yet been called for for the two battleships to be built by contract under the 1914–15 Estimates; and if both of these are to be of the "Royal Sovereign" class or one of this type and the other of the "Queen Elizabeth" type?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLBoth ships will be of the "Royal Sovereign" class, and tenders will be invited within a few days.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why one of the destroyers of the 1913–14 programme has been dropped; and what advantages the two vessels ordered in place of the three outstanding possess over the other boats of the programme?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe sum allowed by Parliament only admitted of two destroyer leaders being built in place of three ordinary destroyers. The larger vessels will carry the senior officer and staff of the flotilla; they will be fitted with improved means of communication, and will carry out the duties now performed by the flotilla cruisers of the "Scout" class, which are not of sufficient speed to operate with full efficiency with the destroyers of their flotillas.