§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will explain why tender for the repairs to H.M.S. "Diadem" are asked for, seeing that these are only boiler casings: and why this work is not done by the dockyard engineering staff.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.As I informed the hon. Member yesterday, the repairs to the boiler cases of the "Diadem" are only a part of the general refit of the ship after three and a half years service. Such a refit is effected in the case of every ship in the Service.
† See (4) Debates, civ., 583.644 Tenders for the repair of the "Diadem" have not been asked for, but will be invited as soon as the list of the principal items of the work has been received at the Admiralty. Owing to the pressure of other important work at the dockyards, it is proposed to carry out the general repairs to the hull, machinery, and fittings of the ship by contract.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANIs the hon. Gentleman's reply to be considered an engineering reply to the Question?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI do not know what kind of reply the hon. Gentleman requires. My answer gives the facts.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANThis is a very important question, and as the hon. Gentleman told me yesterday that only the casings had to be repaired, will he say why tenders have been taken from outside firms to do that work?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe hon. Gentleman is entirely mistaken. I told him yesterday that the repairs to the casings were only a part of the general refit of the ship.