§ Sir R. GOWERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is intended to lay down the new surveying vessel for the Department of Fisheries in Chatham dockyard; and whether, having regard to the number of men normally employed in shipbuilding trades who are now out of employment in the Chatham and Gillingham area, he will consider the desirability of expediting the giving of the order for the laying down of the keel?
Mr. ALEXANDERIt is intended to lay this vessel down as soon as possible after the design is approved, but it is not expected that the date will be before the middle of the year.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the whole of the work of constructing the proposed new surveying vessel for the Department of Fisheries and all parts thereof will be executed at the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham; and, in the event of his reply being in the negative, what part of such work is to be done elsewhere and by whom?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe greater part of the hull and equipment will be constructed in the dockyard, but the machinery will probably be obtained by-lender from private firms.