HC Deb 30 March 1938 vol 333 c1991
38. Sir Walter Smiles

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the reasons why His Majesty's Ship "War-spite" took one-and-a-quarter years longer to overhaul at Portsmouth Dockyard than she did to build at Devonport?

Mr. Cooper

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. H. G. Williams) on 9th February last, the period of construction of the "War-spite" was from July, 1912, to April, 1915 (two years and nine months), and her reconstruction covered the period from April, 1934—June, 1937 (three years and three months). The decision to re-engine and re-boiler the vessel, taken about the time that she came in hand for refit, necessitated the negotiation of contracts for the new machinery, whereas normally the machinery would be ordered in advance of the ship being taken in hand, as has been done in the case of the three ships now undergoing modernisation. This decision, combined with the fact that there was delay in the production of certain items of equipment, prolonged the reconstruction period.

Sir W. Smiles

Are the overhauls of His Majesty's Ship "Queen Elizabeth" and His Majesty's Ship "Valiant" likely to be done in a short period?

Mr. Cooper

Yes, very, for the reasons I have given.

Mr. H. G. Williams

Can my right hon. Friend say why the costs of the refitting of the "Warspite" are so abnormally high?