§ 26. Captain WEDGWOOD BENNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what sums have been paid, or are due, for the building of capital ships which were abandoned in consequence of the Washington decisions?
§ Mr. AMERYCertain sums by way of payment for work done and of advances, amounting in all to £533,279 17s. 3d., have been paid to contractors. The total payment which will ultimately be determined upon after taking those sums into account is the subject of negotiations which are now proceeding. I might add, however, that all but about £25,000 of the sum mentioned is in connection with gun mountings, of which a reduced number of the same type will be required in any case for the two new ships to be built in substitution.
§ Captain BENNShall we know before the end of this financial year what it cost us to go on with these ships before we heard the Washington decision?