20. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty under what Vote the money is to be found that is being spent on forts at Cromarty; when and how was the Admiralty authorised to build these forts; and the circumstances under which the work was transferred from the War Office to the Admiralty?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe expenditure on the works now in progress for the protection of the Fleet anchorage at Cromarty is provided for under Vote 10, Sub-head B, Part I. of the Navy Estimates. The decision that the works referred to should be constructed by the Admiralty was arrived at on the recommendation of the Committee of Imperial Defence. This decision was arrived at before the works were commenced, so that the suggestion that the work was transferred from the War Office to the Admiralty is incorrect.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWas it not due to the action of the right hon. Gentleman that the work was transferred 12 from the War Office to the Admiralty after it had been commenced by the War Office?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe work was never begun by the War Office.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs it not a fact that the work was originally begun by the War Office and changed at the right hon. Gentleman's request?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe War Office is the usual Department for dealing with coast defences, but in this case it was decided that it should be done under the. Admiralty.