MR. LEATHAM BRIGHT (Stoke-upon-Trent)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the engines of H.M.S. Barracouta are paid for; whether the engines and boilers were built to Government specification; whether the usual method of forced draught was adopted; and, whether, in view of the many unfortunate circumstances in connection with this ship, the Government will appoint a Committee of Investigation composed of practical engineers holding appointments in the Mercantile Marine, to report to this House?
§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)Perhaps the noble Lord will also answer at the same time the question on which I have given notice, namely, whether he can furnish the House with the details and cause of the explosion of the furnaces of the new cruiser Barracouta; and whether the Admiralty exercise any systematic technical supervision over the construction and completion on board Her Majesty's ships of machinery and boilers, whether supplied from the dockyards or by private contractors?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONThe regrettable accident on board the Barracouta occurred during the trials of the engines and boilers by the contractors. The final payment on engines and boilers is not made until these trials are successfully concluded. As a coroner's inquest is now proceeding, and the Admiralty, as well as outside experts, will there give evidence, I must, pending this inquiry, decline to answer further questions on the subject. The Barracouta is one of a new class of vessels, four in number. One of them, the Barrosa, engined by the same firm, has recently passed with success her steam trials.