§ Mr. CROOKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the demand for gun mountings and the promise that the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, would be utilised for this work after consultation with the War Office, he can now inform the House as to the amount of such work placed at Woolwich in addition to that in the hands of the contractors?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe matter has been carefully considered, and it has been decided not to place orders for heavy gun mountings at present with the Royal Arsenal. Orders placed with Woolwich in connection with gun mountings allocated this year are 45 per cent, more than last year, and 30 per cent, more than in any of the preceding five years.
§ Mr. CROOKSAre we to understand that the Admiralty do not intend to place any orders in their own Department, for which they have the capacity to manufacture heavy gun mountings, or are they always to be considered the perquisite of private firms?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have not said that. I only say that at present we do not intend to place any orders at Woolwich for heavy gun mountings for which at the present time there is no adequate means of manufacture.
§ Mr. CROOKSWill anyone lay plant down unless they get orders? We cannot lay plant down until you tell us to do it.
§ Mr. J. ROWLANDSWe are told that as soon as possible work will be given to the Arsenal, and what does that mean?
§ Mr. McKENNAI did not mean that at any time, immediately or otherwise, heavy gun mountings would be built at Woolwich, but I have stated that there are orders placed with Woolwich in connection with gun mountings which are 45 per cent, more work than we did last year.
§ Mr. CROOKSI will repeat the question later on.