HC Deb 13 July 1910 vol 19 cc346-7
Mr. FELL

asked if it has been decided where the floating dock in course of construction for the East Coast is to be placed; when it is likely to be completed; and if the necessary preparation are being made by dredging and preparing the mooring station for its reception?

Mr. McKENNA

The present intention is to place the dock in the Medway. The contract date for completion is the 30th September, 1911. All necessary preparations will be made before the delivery of the dock.

Mr. FELL

It will, I believe, take time to get a suitable site. Has the right hon. Gentleman made preparations for that?

Mr. McKENNA

The Admiralty are fully informed as to all the preparations that will have to be made, and that point is covered by the latter part of my answer.

Mr. MIDDLEMORE

asked whether the Stephenson Dock on the Tyne is able to accommodate a ship of the "Dreadnought" class having on board a normal supply of stores and coal and at ordinary high water; and, if not, what will be the situation at the end of 1911 of the two docks on the East Coast which will be capable of accommodating a ship of the "Dreadnought" class?

Mr. McKENNA

The Stephenson Dock will not accommodate a ship of the "Dreadnought" type with more than the amount of coal and stores carried on trial. The other dock referred to—namely, one of the floating docks now under construction—will, according to present intentions, be in the Medway.

Mr. LEE

Do we understand that the Stephenson Dock would not be available for a ship under normal conditions in time of war?

Mr. McKENNA

The hon. Gentleman knows the term "normal" is a technical one, meaning the stores carried at normal draft. Therefore it would be available. When I used the term "normal" it was in the ordinary technical sense—with a normal amount of stores. I understand the hon. Member to mean by the question, the amount of stores usually carried when the ship is full. She would have to be unloaded of part of her complement of stores before she came into the Stephenson Dock.

Mr. LEE

Would not that imply that the dock is not available when a ship is coaled in time of war?

Mr. McKENNA

It would be available in the circumstances which I have described, as it would be easy to unload the stores.

Mr. MIDDLEMORE

Is it true that the depth of the Hebburn dock is twenty-nine feet at spring tide?

Mr. McKENNA

The hon. Gentleman is giving me information now, not asking for it.

Mr. RICHARDS

Is it not true that all ships unload before they go into dry dock?