§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a period of eighteen months is to be allowed for the construction of the destroyers of the current programme, as was the case last year; and whether he can communicate to the House any information enabling this to be compared with the rate of destroyer construction in Germany, more particularly as regards the programmes for 1907–8, 1908–9, and 1909–10?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe contract periods and dates for the twenty destroyers of this year's programme, for which provisional contracts have been made, are as follows:—
We have no information regarding the time taken by Germany for building destroyers, as it is not known when she lays them down, or when they are finally completed, but the following are the average times elapsing between the commencement of the financial year and when the vessels are temporarily commissioned for trials:—
For delivery in 15 months … 9 For delivery in 18 months … 11
1907–8 14½ months 1908–9 17 months 1909–10 Programme not yet completed.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDo I understand then that approximately the rate of construction of destroyers in Germany and in England is about the same?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn the years 1908 and 1909 the German rate of construction was quicker. In the present year it appears to be approximately the same as our rate.
§ Mr. BURGOYNECan the right hon. Gentleman say if any of these destroyers will be ready before or after those of the temporary German programme?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot say with regard to the temporary German programme at what time the destroyers were begun or when they will be completed. So far as last year's are concerned judging by the rate our destroyers will be built quite as fast as the German.
§ Mr. ASHLEYasked how many German destroyers of the 1909–10 programme were completed by 1st May, 1910; how many completed destroyers will Germany possess on 1st May, 1912, assuming that the rapidity of construction does not diminish, and that the programme for next year will not be increased above that provided for in the Navy Law and its amendments, namely, twelve destroyers; and how many completed destroyers Great Britain will possess at the same date, eliminating in each case destroyers launched before 1899?
§ Mr. McKENNATwo German destroyers of the 1909–10 programme were commissioned for trials by 1st May, 1910. The reply to the second part of the question is 110. With regard to the last part of the question, if destroyers launched 344 before 1899 are eliminated the total number of British destroyers which it is anticipated will be completed on 1st May, 1912, including those of the current year's programme, is 124; this figure does not include the six destroyers now being built for the Dominions, three of the 1909–10 programme and three of the 1910–11 programme.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that too small a superiority over German destroyers to be satisfactory?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. Gentleman has taken an arbitrary date and confines the destroyers to those built within an arbitrary period. But with the total number of torpedo carrying craft in the British Navy the Admiralty is satisfied.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LEEHave the Admiralty fixed any definite period as the life of a destroyer?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs we are still using destroyers fifteen years of age and find them thoroughly suitable for the purposes for which they are employed, the Admiralty must not be understood to have fixed a period of less than that time.
§ Mr. McKENNAWe keep no vessels except those which could be used in the event of war.
§ Sir EDWARD SASSOONIs not the German period twelve years?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is impossible to say whether, when the German destroyers have reached the age of twelve years, that country will be able to keep them beyond that period.