§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty with reference to the £1,200,000 contract for the construction of the Admiralty dock at Singapore, from what funds payment will be made; and whether any agreement has been reached, and, if so, on what terms, as to the quota of each Dominion?
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Mr. DAVIDSONThe cost of construction of this floating dock falls upon Vote 8, Section 3, of the Navy Estimates, and provision for its commencement was approved by Parliament in the Estimates for the present year. The sum mentioned by the hon. Member as the contract price is greatly exaggerated. The contributions at present made or promised by members of the Empire towards the cost of the Singapore naval base are as follow:
- Hong Kong, £250,000.
- Federated Malay States, £2,000,000.
- Straits Settlements, gift of land for the base.
These contributions are towards the cost of the scheme as a whole, and not towards the cost of particular appliances.