§ 18. Rear-Admiral ADAIRasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, as reported in the Press, the new battleships are to be armed with guns of 18-inch calibre and 75 feet length; whether such guns can be manufactured at the Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich, with plant now existing there; and, if not, what outlay is entailed in adding to the plant to enable this Government factory to manufacture them?
§ 20. Mr. LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the estimated cost of the new capital ships, including armament, to be laid down by the Admiralty; and whether details of size, speed, armament, and protection can be given?
§ Mr. LAMBERTWhen can we have information about the cost of the new battleships?
§ 22. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to lay down the new capital ships in the royal or private yards; if the matter is not yet decided as to all four ships, will he give a promise that one of the new ships to be laid down immediately shall be laid down in Devonport Dockyard; and, if unable to make such a promise, will he give his reasons?
§ Mr. AMERYThe dimensions of the slips at the royal yards are at present not adequate for the construction of capital ships of the new type. The question of the time and cost of alterations to enable this construction to be undertaken at the royal yards is being investigated, and the results of the enquiry will be taken into consideration when the time arrives to place orders for the new ships. It is, in any case, unlikely that the Admiralty will be in a position to place orders for three months.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEAre steps to be taken immediately to lengthen these slips, or is it merely that there is an investigation by the Admiralty?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEAre steps being taken immediately, at Devonport we shall say, to enlarge these slips or is it only an investigation at the Admiralty?