§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for War how much of the necessary construction that his Department has required has been undertaken in the Royal Dockyards in each year since the year 1906, stating in respect of each year the kind and value of the work undertaken in each of the Royal Dockyards separately: and whether, seeing that the dockyards are national establishments, he will in the future undertake to give them preference in the necessary constructive work of his Department?
§ Mr. WALSHI regret that the statistics asked for in the first part of the question are not available. The question of utilising the Royal Dockyards in connection with Army requirements has been under frequent discussion, and advantage is taken of their manufacturing facilities whenever economically possible. No new construction is contemplated by the War Office at present, but boat stores are obtained through the Admiralty, and orders are placed with the dockyards by the Royal Army Ordnance Department as opportunity arises.