§ Mr. R. HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the date of commencing trials for the "Monarch," "Conqueror," and "Thunderer," respectively; and-how long they are expected to last, with any reasons that can be furnished for differences of the periods?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe trials of the "Monarch" begun at the end of November last, and finished about the middle of December. The trials of the "Thunderer" begun at the end of last month, and are expected to complete within the next two days. The date of beginning the trials of the "Conqueror" has not yet been definitely settled. It will be seen from these dates that the trials of the "Monarch" occupied about a fortnight, and that it is expected that the "Thunderer's" trials will be completed within the same time limit. No definite information can be given at present as to the length of time the trials of the "Conqueror" may be expected to take.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the reason for the delay of four or five months in completing the "Conqueror" and "Thunderer"; whether this is in any way due to labour troubles or alteration of design, or in the case of the "Thunderer" to the special difficulties connected with the Thames yard; and whether penalties will be inflicted on the contractors?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs stated in my reply of 20th February, the "Conqueror" and "Thunderer" are not due for delivery until the 31st of this month. It is at present expected that the "Conqueror" 923W will be some four or five months late, but that the "Thunderer" will not be more than two months late. The reason for the delay in the case of the "Conqueror" is partly labour troubles and partly difficulty in obtaining gun-mountings in sufficient time. The "Thunderer" has been delayed partly on account of the special difficulties connected with the Thames yard and partly by difficulties in obtaining armour in sufficient time. The delay is not due in either case to alteration of design. With regard to the question of penalties, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply of 20th February.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the delay of four or five months in completing the "Princess Royal" is due to general causes and, if so, what are they; whether the special difficulties discovered in the case of the "Lion" also affect the "Princess Royal" and, if so, to what extent; and whether penalties will be inflicted on the contractors?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe delay of four or five months in completing the "Princess Royal" is due partly to labour troubles and partly to certain alterations which experience has shown to be desirable in the "Princess Royal" as well as in the "Lion." These alterations are responsible for a few weeks' delay. With regard to penalties, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply of 20th February to a similar question.