§ Sir R. GOWERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the cost of the latest type of battleship, battle cruiser, destroyer, light cruiser, and submarine, respectively; what proportion of the cost is due to labour, material, and establishment charges, respectively; what is the approximate annual cost, in the case of each type, of wages, salaries, victualling, clothing, repairs, maintenance and other expenses, respectively; and how these costs compare with those of 1928?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLNo battleship or battle cruiser has been built during the period 1928–1934. The cost of the latest vessels of these types was:
- Battleship "Rodney" (completed 1927)—£6,148,319.
- Battle cruiser "Hood" (completed 1920)—£5,698,946.
As these ships were built by contract the division of the cost between labour, material and establishment charges is not available.
Destroyers:
The estimated cost of the "Eclipse," due to complete in 1934, is £290,007.
The cost of the "Amazon," completed in 1927, was £320,825.
These vessels being built by contract, the division of the cost is not available. Cruisers:
Date of Completion. Cost. £ "Neptune" … 1934 1,462,997 (7,000 tons.) "Kent " … 1928 2,084,208 (9,050 tons.) These ships were built in the dockyards, the machinery being supplied by con- 2209W tract. The cost divided over the heads given is approximately as follows:
"Neptune." "Kent." Percentage. Percentage. Dockyard labour 16 19 Dockyard material 15 14 Establishment charges (Dockyard and Admiralty) 13 11 Contract work 56 56
Submarines. Date of Completion. Cost. "Shark" (670 tons) … 1934 £251,666 "Odin" (1,475 tons) … 1929 £441,896
Approximate Annual Coat for Pay, Victualling and Clothing, Repairs and other Maintenance Services of the latest type of Battleship, Battle Cruiser, Cruiser, Destroyer and Submarine in 1928 and 1934, respectively. — Battleship. Battle Cruiser. Cruiser. Destroyer. Submarine. 1928 "Rodney." 1934 "Rodney." 1928 "Hood." 1934 "Hood." 1928 "Kent." 1934 "Neptune." 1928 "Amazon." 1934 "Eclipse." 1928 "Odin." 1934 "Shark." £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Personnel, Pay, etc. 189,500 175,000 160,000 146,500 96,000 75,400 17,500 18,500 12,300 7,800 Personnel, Victualling and Clothing. 46,500 42,800 40,000 38,000 24,000 17,000 4,600 4,100 1,900 1,100 Repairs 25,000 28,000 32,500 28,000 14,000 18,200 4,000 5,500 10,000 10,000 Other Maintenance Services 74,000 57,200 80,600 61,500 50,000 22,400 8,900 12,900 7,000 4,300 Total of Direct Expenditure (i.e. exclusive of annual accruing liability for pensions). 335,000 303,000 313,000 274,000 184,000 133,000 35,000 41,000 31,200 23,200