§ SIR GEORGE SCOTT ROBERTSON (Bradford, Central)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty has he received from his professional advisers any official opinion that the enlargement of the Forth and Clyde Canal to a size sufficient to give passage to warships of the "Dreadnought" type, or the digging of a new Forth and Clyde Canal of a similar capacity, is a project of great strategic importance; has the question been recently considered, the line of country surveyed, and the approximate cost estimated; and is he aware that such a national undertaking would at the same time provide work, according to the measure of the necessity, to large numbers of the unemployed for a long time to come.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe question of constructing a ship canal between the Forth and the Clyde has been reported upon from time to time, and it is understood that certain evidence as to the commercial value of such a canal has been given to the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways. As the question cannot be dealt with apart from its commercial importance, it is proposed to await the Report of the Royal Commission before giving the subject fresh consideration.
§ MR. WATT (Glasgow. College)Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately what the cost of this canal would be?
§ MR. MCKENNAI have heard of various estimates being submitted to the Admiralty ranging from £24,000,000 sterling downwards.
§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)was understood to ask the cost of a canal without locks.
§ MR. MCKENNAreplied that he had not seen any estimate for that, but he assumed that locks would be necessary.