§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether an order for boats for the Royal Navy has recently been placed in Germany; and, in such case, what steps were first taken to ensure that the provisions of the English Factory Act and the Fair Contracts Resolution were complied with by the firms who have undertaken these orders?
SIR U. KAY-SITUTTLEVVORTH(1.) A specimen life-saving boat of special pattern, adapted for service in torpedo boats and destroyers, was offered for trial in May, 1893, by the English agents of a German firm. It was subsequently purchased, and subjected to very severe tests. As a result, it has been decided to adopt this type of boat in a number of the destroyers now building. The contractors for the vessels have to supply the boats: they are not ordered by the Admiralty direct. (2.) The answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 14th of March, 1893, applies to this case also. No steps wore taken in regard to the points mentioned, as the work was to be done abroad.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman how many of the boats in question had been ordered, and whether they will be marked "made in Germany" while flying the British ensign?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI cannot say how many have been ordered. It depends on the contractors whether they will be made in Germany or in England.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTBut the boats are to be paid for out of public money. Does not the right hon. Gentleman know how many have been ordered?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHWe know the number of torpedo destroyers ordered, but not the number of boats.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTThen on a future day I will ask how many of these boats have been ordered at the cost of the taxpayer?
* MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Is there any reason which renders British-built torpedo destroyers 42 less capable of carrying British built boats than other ships?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe boats which have to be carried on these destroyers are necessarily light and of peculiar build, and have to be boats compressed into a very small space. It is on that ground that special boats have been ordered. We take the invention we consider the best, whether the boat be of German or of English manufacture.
* MR. GIBSON BOWLESBut if that applies to torpedo destroyers, does it not apply more strongly to torpedo boats?
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTWill the English Factory Act and the Fair Contracts Resolution of this House apply in Germany?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHIf my hon. Friend will look at the answer I have given him, he will see that I have already replied to that question.
SIR U. KAY-SIIUTTLEWORTHWe sincerely hope they will be built in England. Although they are a German invention they are the best boats we can find, and therefore we have ordered them.