§ Admiral of the Fleet Sir HEDWORTH MEUXasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether since the outbreak of war any proposals have been submitted by the Admiralty to the Board of Trade for the building of cargo-carrying steamers specially constructed to resist torpedo attack; and, if so, were these proposals accepted?
§ Mr. G. ROBERTSMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Proposals were put by the Admiralty before the Board of Trade some time ago and were fully considered by their expert advisers and experts of one of the leading classification societies. The proposals were not adopted because the experts considered that they would involve so great a reduction of cargo-carrying capacity that they would be commercially impracticable. I shall be pleased to give the hon. and gallant Member an opportunity of seeing the data on which the conclusion was based if he cares to call at the Board of Trade.