MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the proposals announced in February last by the First Lord of the Admiralty to lay down during 1893–4, in the dockyards, some new ships, in order to maintain the strength of. the Navy with a due regard to the ships in course of construction by other Naval Powers, and to the actual waste which goes on in our own ships, have yet been carried out, and, if so, to what extent; and what the new ships are which have been or will be so laid down in 1893–4?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe proposals announced on behalf of the Admiralty in February and August last, as to the construction of new ships, 814 are being carried out, and it is anticipated that the amount estimated for new construction, as distinguished from repairs and reconstruction, will be fully spent. I may mention that the repairs of the Howe and other ships have been effected without encroaching on the amount devoted to new construction in the current year's Estimates. The Shipbuilding Programme for 1893–4 includes, first, the pushing forward or completion of ships already in hand in 1892–3; and, secondly, the commencement of two battleships, one first class, and three second class cruisers, two sloops and a number of torpedo boat-destroyers.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERMay I ask a question arising out of the answer just given—namely, whether the right hon. Gentleman can state whether it is the fact that in the case of five vessels which he informs the House were commenced at the end of August last, the keels of two of them were only laid down last week, and that three of them have not yet had their keel plates laid; and whether he can say whether any and what work has been done upon the two ironclads referred to by him in his answer?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI adhere to what I stated just now. The ships to which my hon. Friend alludes have been commenced. [An hon. MEMBER: When?] It is true that the keels of some of these are not yet laid, but some of them will be laid within a few days, and the money which was taken in the Estimates for those new ships will be spent on new construction in the way I have already announced to the House.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI think the right hon. Gentleman has not properly apprehended the question, which was whether it is a fact that out of five vessels which he informed the House on a previous occasion were commenced in August last, two were in fact only laid down last week, and whether the other three have yet been laid down at all?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHMy hon. Friend is quite wrong in his premises. I have not replied that five ships were commenced in August last; I only stated that certain announcements were made in February and August last.