§ MR. JAMES HOPE (Sheffield, Brightside)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty when he hopes to be in a position to invite tenders for the construction of the contract-built battleships and armoured cruisers included within the programme of the current financial year, and for the armour required for the dockyard-built cruiser included in the same programme.
(Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) Tenders for the construction of the armoured cruisers belonging to this year's programme which are to be built by contract will be invited almost immediately. It is hoped to invite the tenders for the battleships in September next, and those for the armour required for the cruiser to be built at Pembroke not later than October next.