HC Deb 05 August 1912 vol 41 cc2638-9
11. Mr. FELL

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state how much has been spent on new dockyard construction by the Governments of this country and of Germany during the past ten years?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

I assume that by "new dockyard construction the hon. Member refers to works and not to shipbuilding. The question has been very fully examined by the Department, and it is regretted that owing to the divergent forms in which the estimates of the two counries are framed it is difficult to give any reliable figures.

Mr. FELL

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the amounts for this country?

Dr. MACNAMARA

No, because we should have to examine most voluminous expenditure involving a variety of considerations such as dockyards, harbours, storehouses, bridges, the construction of roads, and so on, and that would be a task which we ought not to put upon an already overworked Department.

Sir W. BYLES

Are not both countries spending far too much on this work?