§ 34. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make concerning the progress of the salvage of His Majesty's Submarine "Thetis"?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. Shakespeare)The damage which was sustained last week during a gale by the steamship "Zelo," which is being used as a lifting craft, has now been made good, the ship has returned to the wreck, and the salvage operations have recommenced.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the hon. Gentleman say whether any charges are falling upon public funds at the present moment in connection with these salvage operations; or are they being borne by Messrs. Cammell Laird?
§ Mr. ShakespeareI would rather that the hon. and gallant Gentleman put a question down regarding that point.
§ 36. Mr. Leonardasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that about the year 1916 it was decided upon expert advice to place bulkheads immediately abaft the torpedo tubes in submarines; whether such bulkheads were placed in the "Thetis"; and, if not, when such a policy was discontinued, and why?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In all submarines since that date, including "Thetis," such a bulkhead has been fitted.
§ Mr. LeonardIs the bulkhead referred to in the hon. Gentleman's answer a bulkhead of a general type, for general protection? Is it not the case that the bulkheads introduced in 1916 were of a type specially designed to deal with accidents to torpedo tubes?
§ Mr. ShakespeareEvery bulkhead is in the form of a safety device.
§ 40. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will provide facilities for a display and description of the models of submerged torpedo-tube arrangements and also of Davis escape apparatus for the 2227 benefit of Members of this House, either at once or after the report of the "Thetis" inquiry?
§ Mr. ShakespeareMy noble Friend is trying to arrange a visit to Fort Blockhouse for a party of Members of Parliament, which he hopes will serve the purpose my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.