§ Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) what amount of iron and steel castings were obtained from private contractors for the dockyard at Portsmouth during the six months ending 30th June, 1911, and also for the corresponding periods of 1909 and 1910; whether such castings could have been made in the foundries of the Department; and, if so, will he state the reasons that induced the Department to give the work to the private contractors: (2) what amount of iron and steel castings were obtained from private contractors for the Devonport Dockyard during the six months ending 30th June, 1911, and also for the corresponding periods of 1909 and 1910; whether such castings could have been made in the foundries of the Department; and, if so, will he state the reasons that induced the Department to give the work to the private contractors?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe figures are as follows:—
The dockyards have no facilities for making steel castings, or iron castings of special quality. The quantity of iron castings of ordinary quality bought from the trade is inconsiderable.
—— Portsmouth. Devonport. Totals. Iron. Steel. Iron. Steel. Iron. Steel. Tons Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Six months ending— 30 June, 1909 26 272 5 148 31 420 30 June, 1910 35 270 3 116 38 386 30 June, 1911 15 132 2 153 17 285 76 674 10 417 86 1,091