I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether it was the intention of the Admiralty to reduce the number of destroyers in the Mediterranean before the recent loss of a destroyer which it is now the declared intention of the Government not to replace; and, if so, whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to make any further reduction in the destroyer strength there.

The reply to both parts of the Question is in the negative. It is con sidered that there is a sufficiency of torpedo craft in the Mediterranean to meet the present conditions.