§ Mr. GRETTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the contracts for the 20 torpedo destroyers in this year's Naval Estimates have been placed; if so, will he state the names of the contracting firms and the number of vessels allotted to each, respectively; and at what dates the vessels are to be delivered to the Admiralty?
§ Mr. McKENNAOrders for these vessels have been provisionally placed as follows:—
Vessels. Messrs. Thornycroft 4 Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie, and Co. 3 Messrs. J. S. White 3 Messrs. J. Brown 3 The Fairfield Company 3 Messrs. Denny Brothers 2 Messrs. Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson 1 Messrs. Inglis 1 The dates for delivery are not finally settled.