§ Mr. BURGOYNEasked the. First Lord of the Admiralty whether the order for the battle-cruiser of the 1911–12 programme has yet been placed, if so, with whom, and when is it anticipated she will be handed over to the Navy for commissioning?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe order for the battle-cruiser has been provisionally placed with Messrs. John Brown and Company, Limited, of Clydebank. The reply to the second part of the question is March, 1914.
§ Mr. LEEWhat does "provisionally placed" mean; does it mean that the ship has been definitely ordered?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, it does; it is a technical phrase which does not interfere with the commencement of the vessel.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEWhen is it anticipated that the cruiser will be laid down, and will the money voted for her last year be spent on her?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir; the cruiser has been delayed for seven or eight weeks more than she ought to have been by a re consideration of her design, which has resulted in considerable improvement. All the money voted for her will not be spent; in fact, only a very small portion of it.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEIs that reconsideration in design the result of failure in the "Lion"?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, it has nothing to do with it. It is a reconsideration de signed to strengthen the vessel.