§ 10. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the first ferro-concrete ship, built at a cost of £20,000 at Barnstaple under Admiralty orders, failed to be successfully launched, ultimately breaking her back and becoming a total wreck; whether the second of such boats, a 100-ton barge, has not yet been launched owing to the fact that no insurance company will cover the risk of the operation; and whether he will take steps to cancel the remaining contracts for vessels of this description?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Colonel Leslie Wilson)I have been asked to reply. The first of the ferro-concrete barges building at Barnstaple broke her back in the process of being floated down the Channel after launching, and became a total loss.
The second 1000-ton barge under construction there will be launched immediately the work of removing the wreck is completed, and this is practically accomplished.
As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for South Battersea yesterday, it is not the present intention of the Government to build any more concrete vessels, as they are not required for Government use.