§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a Resolution unanimously adopted at a recent meeting of the Queenstown Town Commissioners, calling upon the Admiralty to pass in full the Estimates submitted for 1995–6 for works required at Haul-bowline Dockyard; and whether, in view of the necessity for the works included in these Estimates (namely, a shipwrights' shed, a saw-mill shed, a hauling-up slip, a pitching slope, and an additional dolphin at entrance to basin), the Admiralty will sanction, the proposed expenditure?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH, Lancashire, Clitheroe)Correspondence on the subject of the Resolution in question has passed between the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Town Commissioners of Queenstown. It would be premature for me to state before the Estimates are presented what the decision of the Admiralty may be with regard to the provision for works at Haulbowline. I may, however, repeat the assurance that it continues to be the policy of the Admiralty to maintain the efficiency of Haulbowline as a repairing yard.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that these Estimates have been recommended as absolutely essential to the proper equipment of the Dockyard, even for repairing purposes, by the Naval Officials there; and as the total cost is estimated at under £6,000, will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Admiralty to induce them to pass these Estimates?