§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLOR (Liverpool, East, Toxteth)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the tender for the "Enchantress," Admiralty yacht, was accepted on the ground that it was the lowest; what the amount of the accepted tender was; how much has been paid to date; and how much the Admiralty reckon will require to be paid still before the accounts are finally closed.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The tender accepted was the lowest, but, like other Admiralty tenders, it was not accepted solely on that ground, but after full consideration of the offers from all points of view. It is not usual to state the amount of an accepted tender, but, in view of the special circumstances, and the fact that this vessel will be completed in June 960 next, there is no objection in this case to stating the price, which was £124,583 0s. 4d. As shown by the Navy Estimates for 1904–5, pages 230–231, the expenditure on this vessel up to the 31st instant is expected to be £93,035, and £33,924 is provided for the completion of the vessel in 1904–5.