Sir JOHN JACKSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any agreement has been come to with Tyne shipbuilding firms for the construction on the Tyne of dry docks capable of taking in warships of the largest class, as suggested by the Admiralty to these firms a year ago; and whether the Government still maintain that preference should be given to private enterprise in providing docks for the ships of the British Navy rather than that the Government should establish such docks themselves?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The attitude of the Government is not such as is indicated in the latter part of the question.