§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the total value of the contracts placed in connection with the large cruisers "Indomitable," "Inflexible," and "Invincible," laid down this year in private yards.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe total value of the main contracts were as follows:—"Inflexible," £1,224,808, "Invincible" £1,253,348 13s. 4d., "Indomitable," £1,248,072 5s. These figures do not include cost of gun mountings or armament, contracts for which were placed separately.
§ MR. BELLAIRSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty why no attempt was made to secure competitive tenders in the case of the three large cruisers "Indomitable," "Inflexible," and "Invincible."
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI have already told the hon. Member, in reply to a previous Question on the 11th December,†that this matter was dealt with by the late Board, and I do not feel
†See Col. 116–7.1263 in a position to make any statement as to the reasons which may have led to their decision.