Could Hood and Repulse be refitted while Germany trained crews?

Should Britain bring Hood and Repulse in for emergency refits while the new German ships remain uncrewed?

The proposed answer is yes, using the German work-up interval for new machinery, but the speakers differ over whether the government would accept it.

The uncrewed German ships create a possible interval for bringing Hood and Repulse in for fast refits. The proposed work concentrates on new boilers and gearing. One objection is political: withdrawing two British ships immediately after Germany acquires seven could look like a further loss of strength. The reply is that an emergency modernization would prepare the battlecruisers for the threat before the German ships were ready. The exchange leaves a disagreement over whether the government of the time would accept that temporary reduction in availability.