MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty can he explain how it is that the 706 Admiralty yacht "Enchantress" has been taken over from the builders although the last instalment of her cost has not been paid; has this been done with the consent of the builder; when is it proposed to pay that last instalment; what has been the average annual cost of coal for the Admiralty yacht during the past three years; and how many days in each of those three years has the Admiralty yacht, whether the "Enchantress" or one of her predecessors, been used by the Lords of the Admiralty.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN, Suffolk, Wood-bridge)This is the procedure adopted in the case of all ships for the Navy. It is not possible to make the final payments until the charges for works left to be done until the ships reach a dockyard have been agreed to. With regard to the second part of the Question: this has been done with the consent of the builder. It is hoped that the last instalment will be paid before the end of this month. The average annual cost of coal for the last three years has been £1,112 Omitting the year 1903, when the old "Enchantress" owing to its condition was not used, the yacht has been used by the Board as follows: 1904, twenty-four days (during the seven months she was available); 1902, thirty-four days; 1901, twenty-nine days.
§ MR. PRETYMANasked for notice.