§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state what was the cost of H.M.S. "Spartiate," at the time she left Pembroke for Portsmouth, at what date this run took place, what number of miles she has steamed since, and what is the present condition of her boilers; also, how much has been spent on her since arrival at Portsmouth; and, whether her chief engineer is the gentleman who reported on the Belleville boilers in the Messageries Company to the Admiralty.
§ * MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe expenditure on the "Spartiate" before leaving Pembroke was £449,920. The ship left Pembroke on the 7th April, 1900. Since that time she has steamed 1,200 miles, including the run round to Portsmouth. The present condition of her boilers is perfectly satisfactory, and no trouble has been experienced with 526 them at any time. £70,000 has been spent upon the ship since her arrival at Portsmouth. The answer to the last paragraph of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANWhat was the £70,000 spent on?
§ * MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERIt was mostly spent on the completion of the ship after she arrived from Pembroke. A portion of the money was expended in making good defects in the crank-shaft and in the condensers. The contractor having become bankrupt the work had to be undertaken by the dockyard.