§ Mr. BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the contracts for the gun-mountings, guns, and armour of the two battleships to be laid down in July have yet been signed; and, if so, orb what date?
§ Mr. McKENNATenders for the gun-mountings have been invited and the orders will shortly be placed.
§ Mr. ARTHUR S. WILSON (Holderness)"shortly," They ought to have been placed before now.
§ Mr. McKENNATenders for guns are about to be invited. With regard to armour, the orders will be placed in good time.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must ask the hon. Member for Holderness not to keep up a running comment. It is most unusual in the procedure of Parliament. It is extremely inconvenient both for Ministers and for Members who wish to listen to the answers.
§ Mr. STANLEY WILSONI apologise. I am afraid I was rather carried away by the answer of the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. BELLAIRSIs it not the fact that on March 16th he gave a specific pledge to this House that the orders for those spare parts, gun mountings, etc., would be given at once. The words "at once" were used.
§ Mr. McKENNAI have not referred to the words, and my hon. Friend has not given me any notice that he intended to refer to the words, but so far as the substance of that reply is concerned the reply was strictly accurate. Communication was made in ample time to the contractors, who had taken all necessary steps to ensure the delivery of gun mountings in time. The mere fact that a specific order was not given has not the faintest bearing on the actual date.
§ Mr. BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware the contractors require specific orders, and his pledge was that orders would be given at once. That was on 16th March; we are now at 11th May, going into eight weeks afterwards?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, because in the case of gun mountings, which are made at the present time by only two firms, the ordinary rules of trade that specific orders must be given do not apply. Those two contractors are fully aware they would get 1653 the orders. Arrangements have been made with the contractors at the time that I say.