§ 18. Mr. Kirbyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the more diverse employment of submarines, as suggested in proposals sent to the Department of Scientific Research and Development, Admiralty, by Mr. R. N. Gandy; whether he is aware that these 1038 proposals were rejected as novel but of no practical value; and whether, in view of this rejection and the need for the fullest use of submarines in total war, he will have further consideration given to the idea underlying Mr. Gandy's proposals to which other methods of attachment could be applied?
§ Captain PilkingtonMr. Gandy's proposals were carefully examined by the Admiralty. Very similar, and indeed almost identical, ideas had already been examined; it was found that such features of the proposals as were novel were not of any practical utility; and Mr. Gandy was so informed. As a result of further inquiries, I am satisfied that the operational advantages claimed by Mr. Gandy could not be realised in practice.
§ Mr. KirbyIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that Mr. Gandy was prepared for a reply to the effect that his actual scheme, he not being an engineer, would not be successful, and will the Admiralty give further consideration not so much to his exact scheme as to the idea underlying it?
§ Captain PilkingtonThe idea which Mr. Gandy put forward has been put forward in the past in various different forms. His was different in certain details, and the idea has been examined both in those details and in the general idea and was found not to be actually practicable.
§ Mr. A. EdwardsAs this seems to be almost a stereotyped reply to this kind of question, can the Minister say whether any idea has ever been put to the Admiralty which has not been considered?