§ MR. J. HERBERT LEWISI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, in how many cases were penalties incurred for delay in the fulfilment of Naval contracts; what was the total amount of such penalties during the year ending the 31st March, 1899; in how many cases were penalties enforced; and what was the total amount of such penalties.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. E. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.During the year ended 31st March last potential penalties were incurred in 115 cases by contractors for shipbuilding, armaments, gun mountings, and yard machinery, to the amount of £223,989, and penalties to the extent of £65 were enforced in two cases.