§ 34. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked when the Salvage Lighter No. 96 was delivered to the Admiralty, and what is the reason of the delay in her equipment?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Salvage Lighter No. 96, built by contract, was delivered before the end of September, 1912. The materiel still required to complete the efficiency of the vessel consists of a set of sixteen hydraulically worked appliances of a novel character, the manufacture of which has been attended with difficulties which it was not possible to foresee.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs it not a fact that in answering a similar question the right hon. Gentleman said that the lighter was likely to be delivered in May last? Will the right hon. Gentleman explain why it was not delivered in May last?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe materiel still required to complete the efficiency of the vessel consists of a set of 16 hydraulically-worked appliances of a novel character, the manufacture of which has been attended with difficulties which it was not possible to foresee.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEThat is not an answer to my question. Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman said that this lighter would be delivered in May last? Will he kindly say why it was not delivered in May last?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not had an opportunity of referring to previous answers to enable me to answer the first part of the question. The second part is answered by the reply I have given.
§ 35. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked what dead weight can be raised by Lighter No. 94 and what dead weight can be raised by Lighter No. 96; whether it would have been possible had Lighter No. 96 been complete, to have raised the Submarine B2; and, if not, why the raising of the submarine was so quickly abandoned?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe dead weight is 270 tons and 450 tons respectively. Had No. 96 been complete, she could have raised B2 so far as lifting capacity is concerned; and so could No. 94 had it been decided to proceed with the operation. The operations were abandoned on account of the probability of the submarine breaking in half, with the consequent disturbance and loss of the bodies of the crew on board.
§ Mr. BURGOYNEHave the Admiralty under construction any lighters capable of lifting the new submarines now being built?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI must ask for notice of such questions.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIf this Lighter No. 96, had been completed, would it not have been far better to have used it instead of trying to raise the vessel with Lighter No. 94, which he knew very well under the circumstances was of no use whatever?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe hon. Gentleman states the case with complete inaccuracy. It would have been quite possible to raise the submarine B2, so far as its weight was concerned; but because it was nearly cut in two the naval authorities and experts considered that it would not be desirable nor worth while to attempt this very difficult and costly operation.