§ Mr. GRETTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state hen orders will be given for the gun-mountings for the armoured ships which are to be laid down on 1st April, 1910; whether tenders for supplying these gun-mountings have been submitted; and if any of the contractors on the Admiralty list have already made expenditure upon an increase of their plant or preparation of material in anticipation of increased orders for gun-mountings?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. Gentleman rain error in assuming that armoured ships are necessarily to be laid down on 1st April, 1910. If he means to refer to the four large armoured ships mentioned on page 226 of the Navy Estimates, the reply is that an order for the gun-mountings for one ship has already been provisionally placed, and the tenders for the gun-mountings for three ships are under consideration. As regards the latter part of the question, there is nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Gentleman on 2nd August last.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LEEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in regard to the first part of the question, if he can say—if this question is inaccurate—when the four ships are to be laid down?
§ Mr. McKENNAProbably some time in the month of April, 1910. But the Government attach more importance to the date at which they are to be finished. They are to be finished by March, 1912.