§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is yet in a position to state if the orders for torpedo destroyers have yet been placed, and, if so, where; and whether the lowest tenders were accepted in each case.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe orders have been provisionally placed as follows: three to Messrs. Cammell, Laird and Company; three to Messrs. J. Brown 91 and Company; three to the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company; one to the Thames Shipbuilding Company; two to Messrs. J. S. White and Company, Limited, Cowes; one to Messrs. Thornycroft and Company; one to Messrs. Denny Brothers; one to Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited, one to the London and Glasgow Shipbuilding Company, Limited. The acceptances are provisional, inasmuch as certain modifications in details of design and certain other contract conditions have to be agreed to. In allocating the orders, the lowest tenders were accepted so far as possible, consistent with such questions as suitability of design, experience of the firms, and proper distribution of orders.
§ MR. CREAN (Cork, S.E.)Has any of the work been allocated to Irish firms?
§ MR. MCKENNAI do not think any tendered, or, indeed, are capable of doing work of this kind.
§ MR. GRETTON (Rutland)When are the vessels to be completed?
§ MR. MCKENNAI think the contracts range from fifteen to eighteen months.