59. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of vessels of the "Hood" class which have been laid down; the extent to which their construction and equipment have been proceeded with and the total expenditure either already incurred or for which the Government will be responsible in view of the contracts entered into; and whether it is intended to complete these vessels?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAFour ships of the "Hood" class were laid down, and of these the "Hood" is being carried to completion. The construction of the other three ships, which were laid down in the autumn of 1916, was stopped in March, 1917, when the vessels were in very early stages of building. The contracts for these three ships have been cancelled since the Armistice, and the slaps are now being dismantled. Taking contract claims and dockyard expenditure in respect of work done and materials obtained for the three cancelled ships and their armament, the anticipated total expenditure involved on cancelled orders is estimated at £1,534,000. There may be some small arisings, but I am afraid the great bulk of this will be nugatory. It must be remembered that the cancellation of the three "Hoods" will save an expenditure of from £18,000,000 to £20,000,000.