Colonel PHILIPPSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the delay in delivering the two destroyers ordered in the financial year 1905–6 arises from change in design ordered by the Admiralty or from delays en the part of the contractors; and, in the latter case, whether he will state the names of the contractors, and whether they have previously built destroyers for the Navy?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs the question of what penalties, if any, for late delivery has yet to be decided for these two destroyers, a complete and definite answer cannot be given at the present moment; but it must be borne in mind that in these and other similar instances, where contracts are entered into to advance beyond the ordinary speeds of a particular type, delays are likely to occur occasionally, as the experience of our own and foreign navies shows. Both of the firms concerned have large experience and knowledge of the problems dealt with.