§ Professor Savoryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the aircraft carrier now building at Messrs. Harland and Wolff's yard, Belfast, will be launched?
§ Mr. W. EdwardsH.M.S. "Centaur," a light fleet carrier, will be launched on Tuesday, 22nd April, 1947, by her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent, at the shipbuilding and engineering works of Messrs. Harland and Wolff, Limited, Belfast. The design of H.M.S. "Centaur" is a result of many experiments to determine the best shape of hull for speed, endurance and seaworthiness. Strength and rigidity have been the subject of special investigations and electric welding has been extensively used. The latest developments in turbine machinery and electric power have been incorporated. In the course of building, a number of changes have been made to the design to bring it completely up to date. The living quarters of the crew, which are being made as comfortable and pleasing to the eye as possible, have been arranged on the same system as in H.M.S. "Vanguard," with spacious dining halls close to the galleys and with mess' decks com-16W plete with tubular furniture. Many of the living compartments will be fitted with air-conditioned ventilation. The catering arrangements include a high degree of mechanisation. Cooking will be mainly done by electricity and more refrigerated space than usual has been allocated to ensure a more varied diet than has hitherto been possible in warships.