§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can say what has been the cause of the delay in the commission of the "Vengeance" and "Aboukir" of the July, 1897, programme.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)The "Vengeance" was delivered ten months after the contract date. The delay in delivery was due to some extent to difficulties arising from the engineers' dispute, but principally to an accident to the dock sill at Barrow, whereby the ship was detained several months after she was practically ready for delivery. The "Aboukir" was delivered eight months after the contract date. The delay was due to late delivery of the armour to the contractors. No further delay in respect of armour is anticipated.