§ Mr. BURGOYNEasked the total cost of the most recently completed submarine built in Chatham Dockyard, and the total cost of a similar vessel built by contract?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is difficult, if not impossible, to make up the total cost of a vessel built in a dockyard, including a proper allowance for establishment charges, in such a way as to give a basis for an exact comparison with the cost of a similar vessel built by contract. Moreover, in the special case of submarines, the contractors have carried out many experiments at their own expense, and have also supplied the dockyard with the working machinery drawings. These considerations must be borne in mind in drawing any conclusion from the fact that in the dockyard accounts the latest submarine completed at Chatham is returned as having cost £40,270, while the latest vessel of the same type built by contract cost £49,549.