§ MR. HUNT (Shropshire, Ludlow)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the high-tensile steel bottom plates of H.M.S. "Antrim" and any other, ships which have been affected with extensive pittings and oxidation were of British manufacture; and whether the plates were subjected to the usual Admiralty test.
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON Dundee)All the high-tensile steel bottom plates of the "Antrim," and of all other ships in the Navy, have been of British manufacture, and were subjected to the usual Admiralty tests.
§ MR. HUNTHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the 862 fact that on 1st January, 1906, the Government contractors for Keyham Harbour wrote that under the present changed conditions, Government contractors could buy anchors, machinery, and a hundred and one other things made of foreign material from foreign firms?
§ MR. HUNTMay I ask if anything except stone can now be provided by Government contractors for anything to do with the British Navy?
§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)Under what Government was the contract for this ship made?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONUnder the late Government I believe.