§ MR. GEORGE FABER (York)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many submarines have been ordered since the present Government came into office; to what firm or firms have the orders been given; were competitive tenders invited in each or any ease; and, if not, how many firms were invited to tender in each case; and was the sanction of the Treasury obtained before a departure from the usual practice was adopted.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON, Dundee)Seven submarines have been ordered from Messrs. Vickers, and two have been commenced at Chatham, since the present Government came into office. In accordance with the practice hitherto adopted by successive Boards of Admiralty in regard to this special class of vessel, and continued after due consideration by the present Board, no competitive 311 tenders were obtained. Treasury sanction was not required.
§ MR. GEORGE FABERBut did not the Public Accounts Committee find that the sanction of the Treasury was necessary?
§ MR EDMUND ROBERTSONThey made a recommendation to that effect, which will, of course, be carefully considered.
§ MR. GEORGE FABERIs it not the case that the cost of each submarine is very greatly increased by this system of secret contracting with private firms?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONwas understood to reply in the negative, and to point out that the Admiralty could make comparisons with the cost of similar works in the dockyard.
§ MR. GEORGE FABERasked the difference in the cost.
§ MR. SPEAKERNotice should be given of that Question.