§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Marylebone, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the actual net increase on the Shipbuilding Vote, as proposed for the next five years, is as a matter of fact only £9,635,000, arrived at by the following calculation:—New Programme, as stated, £21,500,000; less Armaments, £2,850,000; total, £18,650,000; wastage, as described in page 16 of Statement, Naval Estimates 1887, allowing for five years, £9,015,000; actual increase on Shipbuilding Vote, £9,635,000?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe amount of new construction, excluding cost of armament and incidental charges, for which provision is made under our scheme during the next five years, is as follows:—Ships in hand, £1,550,000; New Programme, £16,150,000; provision for fresh work as New Programme approaches completion in 1893–4, £3,000,000; total, £20,700,000; abate wastage on the Fleet calculated on same basis, £9,200,000; total, £11,500,000. It must be remembered that naval shipbuilding is a going concern. We have to associate the completion of ships in hand with the commencement of a New Programme, and as the New Programme approaches completion to combine its finish with the laying down of new ships for the future. Our New Programme is therefore only part of the work of new construction for which provision has been made during the next five years.
§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORDArising out of the answer to the question, may I ask the noble Lord if the £21,000,000 includes the sum to be expended on ships not yet completed?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONYes, I stated that the amount of money necessary to complete the ships so far as construction is concerned was £1,550,000.