§ Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty 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, establishment charges, and profit; and what is the annual cost, in the case of each type, of wages, salaries, victualling, clothing, repairs, maintenance and other expenses?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe cost of a battleship of the latest type inclusive of torpedoes, ammunition, etc., is approximately £7,000,000. Of this, about £3,200,000 is due to labour, and £2,100,000 to material, the remainder being due to profit and to establishment charges such as rent, rates, light, power, maintenance, etc. The cost of a battle cruiser similar to H.M.S. "Hood" would be about £6,000,000, of which approximately £2,700,000 is due to labour, and £1,800,000 due to material. The corresponding figures for a modern light cruiser are £2,000,000, £900,000 and £600,000; for a modern destroyer £325,000, £145,000, £98,000; and for a modern submarine £400,000, £180,000, £120,000. Particulars of the approximate annual cost of maintenance of each type are given in the following table: