HC Deb 27 October 1908 vol 195 cc60-1
MR. ARTHUR LEE

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state, approximately, the amount of under-expenditure upon new construction which has resulted, up to date, from the strikes in the shipbuilding trade or other unforeseen causes, during the current financial year.

MR. MCKENNA

I regret that the figures asked for are not yet available.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication when the figures will be available so that I may put down another Question?

MR. MCKENNA

Not immediately.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

In a week's time?

MR. MCKENNA

I should not think so.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give an approximate estimate of the extra amount of expenditure, beyond that originally estimated, that will be incurred during the current financial year by the earlier letting of tenders for the construction of nine destroyers and five unarmoured cruisers.

MR. MCKENNA

I regret that the figures asked for are not yet available.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give an approximate estimate of the obligations he will have to meet in this respect during the current year?

MR. MCKENNA

I estimate that the contractors will expend, before 31st March, a total of £300,000. I am, therefore, perfectly sure the liability of the Admiralty will not exceed £200,000, and it will probably be considerably less.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty how he proposes to meet the extra expenditure that will be incurred during the current financial year by the earlier commencement of certain items in the programme of new construction and by the anticipation of repairs to the Fleet.

MR. MCKENNA

I propose to meet it out of the total sums voted for naval services this year.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

On what items will the large savings be effected?

MR. MCKENNA

Large savings will be effected owing to the strike. I cannot, however, give an estimate, as the figures are coming in almost daily. I am confident that the additional expenditure for laying down ships earlier than arranged will be fully met out of these savings.

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