§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state from whence the granite for use in the new works at Haulbowline is being obtained; and whether any of the granite to be used is foreign granite.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe contractors have informed the Admiralty that they are obtaining the granite from Norwegian quarries.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the very finest granite is to be obtained in Great Britain, and that, if the Government had secured the granite in Great Britain, the wages would have been spent on working people in our own country?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI believe very good granite is to be obtained in this country.
§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the contractor is a strong tariff reformer?
§ MR. REMNANT (Finsbury, Holborn)What was the difference in price between the Norwegian and the British contracts?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThere were alternative contracts for Irish limestone and granite. The difference was about 20 per cent. in the favour of the granite.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETTCan the right hon. Gentleman give the difference in price between the granite to be obtained in this country and foreign granite?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONasked for notice of the Question.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the best limestone in Ireland is procurable in the immediate vicinity of Haulbowline?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI believe so.
§ MR. REMNANTCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us the difference in the wages paid the Norwegian worker?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONNo, Sir, I cannot.