§ MR. MIDDLEMOREI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to complete all the large armoured ships, including the three vessels of the "St. Vincent" class, within the specified period of two years; and will they consider the advisability of enforcing a penalty upon the contractors who delay the delivery of ships they may be building for the nation.
§ MR. McKENNAOf the large armoured vessels now under construction by contract, it was the intention of the Admiralty to complete the "Invincible" in two and a half years, and "Superb" and "Vanguard" in two years. The "Invincible" and "Superb" have been delayed by labour troubles and other causes, and will not be delivered within the expected periods. The "Vanguard" will, so far as the Admiralty can at present foresee, be delivered within the two year period. It is the present intention of the Admiralty to allow two years for building and completing large armoured ships in future. The contracts for building warships for His Majesty's service invariably provide for the payment of liquidated damages for delay in delivery, unless such delay shall have been outside the control of contractors for such causes as strikes and lockouts.