§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a sum, riot exceeding £2,546,700, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the expense of the Materiel for Shipbuilding, Repairs, Maintenance, etc., at Dockyards and Naval Yards at Home and Abroad, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1920, in addition to the sum of £8,139,000 to be allocated for this purpose from the sum of £120,000,000 voted on account of Navy Services generally.
Lieut.-Colonel MALONEI think if the Committee till recognises its control in financial matters, we should not allow an item of this character to pass practically unchallenged. No reply has been given to the question relating to an item of £739,000 for alterations to the battleship "Repulse," and I think the Committee ought to be told upon what this sum is being expended. Was this ship a failure, and is this sum required to make good the mistake?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have named the ship, but I cannot go into the details. The expenditure in this case was thoroughly well justified.
Lieut.-Colonel MALONEThis amount of £739,000 is a very serious item, and as it cannot be for repairs we must press for some further explanation.
§ Mr. LONGI quite admit that this Vote raises a direct issue, but I can only reply as I have done before that we have done this work on the advice of naval advisers of the highest standard. Every one of these cases is most carefully investigated. The precise alterations to the "Repulse" I ought not to state here because obviously it is not desirable to do so. On all these matters we rely upon the advice of our expert advisers, and I present their recommendations to the House.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNWith very great respect I do not think the explanation just given by the right hon. Gentleman is sufficient. We have no desire to detain the Committee, but in this respect we are suffering the same as other hon. Members. Practically all the reply of the right hon. Gentleman amounts to is, "We are advised that these sums are necessary, and if you want any more information you must go to the Admiralty." We have a right to get some intelligible explanation from the responsible Minister. Now we come to the item of £739,000, and all the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty replies is that he has named the ship. The right hon. Gentleman informs us that the experts say that this expenditure is necessary but I submit that these replies are not at all respectful to the Committee, and it is not the sort of information which we are entitled to have. What is the use of talking about scrutinising expenditure when we are going to vote £739,000 on the ipse dirit of the First Lord of the Admiralty? If my hon. Friend presses his opposition I shall certainly go to a Division, and I shall consider I am justified in doing it. [A laugh.] I do not see that the right hon. Gentleman strengthens his argument by inarticulate ejaculation. I shall go to a Division on the merits of the question because I hold it is not treating the Committee of Supply with due respect to ask it to vote this sum without saying a single word about what is going to be done with the money.
Question put, and agreed to.