HC Deb 09 March 1910 vol 14 cc1449-50
Mr. FELL

asked if the Admiralty had up to the present time erected any garage or shed for the housing of the dirigible balloon now being constructed for it at Barrow?

Mr. McKENNA

The reply is in the negative.

Mr. FELL

What is proposed to be done with this dirigible balloon when it is constructed if the Admiralty have no shed to put it in?

Mr. McKENNA

I think I gave the hon. Member a very full answer to the very same question last week. The garage at Barrow does not belong to the Admiralty but to Vickers, Maxim and Company. When the experiments are made with the new balloon it will enable us to see the precise size of the shed required. Then the Admiralty will be prepared to take all necessary steps.

Mr. FELL

May I ask if it is not a fact that this balloon will have to be kept at Barrow for, at any rate, a year or two while the shed is being constructed?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir; I hope the shed would not take so long as a year to build.

Mr. ARTHUR LEE

Has the Admiralty a right to use the garage already existing at Barrow?

Mr. McKENNA

Yes. Messrs. Vickers, Maxim would not turn us out of the shed that was built for our purposes.