§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the estimated average cost, without armament and ordnance stores, of the battleships of the 1857 "Orion" class built by contract; what was the cost of the "Orion"; and what was the estimated cost of the battle cruiser "Lion," built at Devonport Dockyard, and of the "Princess Royal," built by contract?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)The average estimated cost of the three contract-built battleships of the "Orion" class, including establishment and incidental charges, is £1,730,668. The approximate cost of the "Orion," including establishment and incidental charges, is £1,705,410. The estimated cost of the "Lion," including establishment and incidental chares, is £1,939,408; and of the "Princess Royal," as shown in the Navy Estimates for 1912–13, £1,893,586. These figures are approximate only. The exact cost cannot be determined until the ships have been completed and the accounts made up.
§ Mr. ASHLEYIs there any explanation why dockyard-built ships cost substantially more than those built by contract?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLlam sure there is an explanation, but I could not go into it in answer to a question.