§ MR. MICHAEL AUSTIN (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that no appliances exist in Haulbowline Docks for the carrying out of repairs to Her Majesty's ships; and in the absence of such appliances, would he explain for what purposes these docks were built?
SIR U.KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI beg to inform the hon. Member for Limerick that appliances already exist at Haulbowline for carrying out repairs with in certain limits, and that at the present moment the Banterer is being repaired there. The object of the works which have been carried out at Haulbowline has been to enable such repairs to be effected, and to have a dry dock and other arrangements to meet emergencies.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the ship to which he has referred (the Banterer) required repairs there were no appliances at Haulbowline to repair her with?
§ MR. AUSTINMay I also ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the steam pinnace in connection with one of Her Majesty's ships had to be sent across the Channel in consequence of the necessary appliances for her repair not being available at Haulbowline.
SIR U.KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI am not aware that that is mentioned in the question, but all the repairs to the Banterer have been carried out at Haulbowline.