§ 35. Lieut.-Colonel CROFTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the sloops or barges built for the Admiralty by the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company during the War showed considerably higher costs than those of other shipbuilders; and whether the higher costs in this connection indicated higher profits?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)This firm built no sloops, but two patrol boats and four barges In neither case is it true that these vessels showed considerably higher costs than the costs of similar vessels built by other firms. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise Lieut.-Colonel CROFT: Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that competitive shipbuilders contend to the contrary, and state that it is well known that the cost of this company was higher than that of other shipbuilders; and that when other shipbuilders offered to build barges at a lower cost, the managing director of this company said that he could not reduce the price; and was that the reason of the Admiralty recommending that he should be created a baronet?