§ Sir HENRY NORMANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if he could state whether the Admiralty has issued instructions for the preparation of plans, the ordering, collection, and supply of materials, or the negotiation of contracts for the construction, in whole or in part, of any of the second four battleships of the "Dreadnought" class referred to in a footnote on page 226 of the Navy Estimates?
§ Mr. McKENNANo orders have been given to contractors in respect of the materials or the equipment of the four ships referred to in the footnote on Page 226 of the Navy Estimates, and no such orders would be necessary before the month of July at the earliest in order to ensure completion of the ships in March, 1912.
§ Sir H. NORMANWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether other orders than those to contractors have been given?
§ Mr. McKENNASo far as work in the Admiralty is concerned that has taken place, but work in the Admiralty is always taking place with regard to the designs for ships, and there is nothing special to be argued from that fact.
§ Mr. McKENNAI shall be happy to answer that question in July.