§ SIR F. SEAGER HUNT (Marylebone, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will inform the House of the amounts of the various tenders received by the Admiralty for the building (with engines) of the following ships:—Jupiter, Powerful, Mars, Terrible, Diana, Venus, Dido, Isis, Juno, and Doris?
* SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHIt would be contrary to precedent, and undesirable in the public interest, for the Admiralty to publish the amounts of all the tenders received for the ships which are to be built in private yards. Unsuccessful tenders are always treated as confidential. But a Return of the estimated cost of all these ships will be laid on the Table when the contracts have been completed for auxiliary machinery, armour, gun-mountings, &c.
§ SIR F. SEAGER HUNTWill the figures of the accepted tenders be given?