§ MR. BARRIE (Londonerry, N.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the early starting of work on the Rosyth naval base, he will consider the advisability of obtaining a reliable estimate of the cost of acquiring, widening, and deepening the Forth and Clyde Canal, in order that the question of providing a direct and valuable waterway to the West Coast of Scotland may be considered.
§ MR. ASQUITHMy right hon. friend the First Lord of the Admiralty has stated that the question is not one that the Admiralty considers pressing from the point of view of naval requirements, and he will defer further consideration of the matter until the Report of 1717 the Canal Commission, which is understood to have been dealing with it.