§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)On behalf of the hon. Member for the Ealing Division of Middlesex, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty why the "Vanguard," a battleship of the Estimates, 1907–8, was not laid down 704 until 3rd April last, during the period 1908–9.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.The exact date of laying the keel of a contract-built vessel is one that is left to the discretion of the builder. In the case of the "Vanguard" a considerable amount of work was done and expenditure incurred in the financial year 1907–8, although the stage technically known as "laid down" was not reached till 2nd April last.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately how much money was spent last year?
§ MR. MCKENNANot without notice.