asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information as to the condition of His Majesty's ship "Psyche," which has been docked owing to the dangerously thin condition of the bottom plates?

On the 7th of last month a report was received to the effect that a small leak had been discovered in the "Psyche's" bottom under the cement, No. 3 stokehold. It was temporarily stopped by the ship's artificers, and in view of other possible defects the Commander-in-Chief ordered the ship to Sydney for the removal of the cement and the examination and necessary repairs to the bottom, and to be taken in hand for annual refit. A further report was called for on the 13th of last month. It came to hand yesterday and is now under consideration.

As this ship only came out of dock last July, after three and a half months, at a cost of £5,000, is it not high time that she and other ships of her class were replaced by ships of a more efficient character?

I do not know whether the statements made by the hon. Member are quite correct. A considerable amount of money is spent year by year in annual outfit.

Is the rights hon. Gentleman aware that the figures I have just given were supplied to me by the First Lord in answer to a question on 13th November last?

I accept them as correct; these figures were not in my mind at the moment.