§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREasked how many armoured ships and small cruisers were provided for in the Estimates for 1911–12; and how many of these ships would have been laid down by the end of that financial year?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe ships provided for in the 1911–12 programme were:—
It is expected that all these ships will have been ordered by the end of this month.
- One battle cruiser.
- Four battleships.
- Three second-class protected cruisers.
- One unarmoured cruiser.
§ Mr. MIDDLEMOREIs it not misleading and almost farcical to order these ships at an interval of more than twelve months after they have been, sanctioned?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt has been for a long time the practice to allow a considerable period to elapse between the sanctioning of the programme by the House and the actual orders. A great deal of the time is necessarily taken up in considering the designs from every point of view. No smaller proportion of the programme was taken last year than in previous years.
§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYIs it the intention of the Admiralty to design their ships first and then come to the House for sanction, after the manner of the German Admiralty, and after the manner the British Admiralty have adopted with regard to the destroyers in this year's Estimates?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo. The object of the Admiralty is to wait until the last possible moment before designing a ship, in order to secure the latest improvements before building.
§ Mr. REMNANTCan we anticipate that any of these ships will be given to the Thames Ironworks Company?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Thames Ironworks Company will have a chance with other firms for the contracts of next year, which programme, as regards destroyers, is to come on at once.
§ Mr. REMNANTAre the two ships which the right hon. Gentleman hoped to be able to give to the Thames Ironworks Company included in these?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo.
§ Mr. EYRES-MONSELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if he will state how many destroyers of the 1910–11 programme are completed; what was the average time taken for their completion; how many destroyers of the 1911–12 programme are laid down.; and when will they all be completed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNine destroyers of the 1910–11 programme have been completed, and the average time taken for their completion was eighteen and a half months from the date of order. The twenty destroyers of the 1911–12 programme have all been ordered. Thirteen should be completed before April, 1913, and the remainder before September, 1913.
§ Mr. EYRES-MONSELLWill the right hon. Gentleman say how many have been laid down in the 1911–12 programme?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not got that figure on my answer, though I note from the question that perhaps I ought to have had it. If the hon. Gentleman will put down a question I will reply.
§ Mr. EYRES-MONSELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the contract time, for the destroyers of this year's programme?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOf the twenty ordered, the contract time for the construction of—
- 9 is 18 months each.
- 7 is 17 months each.
- 1 is 16½ months.
- 2 is 16 months each.
- 1 is 14 months.