§ Mr. LONSDALEI desire to ask the first Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any official information showing that the number of docks built, building, or immediately contemplated for German "Dreadnoughts" is 12, comprising eight Government docks and four private floating docks, of which nine will be accessible from the North Sea; and whether he is now in a position to say what provision, other than the works at Rosyth, is to be made this year towards supplying dry-dock accommodation for British "Dreadnoughts" on the East Coast of Great Britain?
§ Mr. McKENNAPresuming that two docks are to be built at Brunsbuttel, and regarding them as coming within the category of "immediately contemplated," though there is no official intimation on either of these points, it may be said that built, building and projected there are 12 docks understood to be capable of taking the German battleships now under construction. This number includes:—
Ten docks will be accessible from the North Sea, the other two are at Kiel; but one of these, a floating dock, might conceivably be transported to the Elbe in case of necessity. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
- 7 Government docks,
- 2 private dry docks,
- 3 private floating docks.
§ Mr. LONSDALEAre the Government taking any steps whatever to supply the acknowledged deficiency of dry-dock accommodation on the East Coast?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir.
§ Mr. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to inform the House what steps have been taken?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. Member is aware that Rosyth is being proceeded with.
§ Mr. LONSDALEHow many docks will there be at Rosyth capable of receiving a "Dreadnought"?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe question asked me by the right hon. Gentleman was whether the Government were taking any steps to provide docks on the East Coast, and I said, "Yes, at Rosyth."
§ Mr. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that whilst Germany will have twelve docks capable of receiving "Dreadnoughts," we shall only have one?
§ Mr. SPEAKEROrder, order. The hon. Member asked a question and receives an answer, and then he repeats the same question.