§ 19. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that provision was made in the current Navy Estimates for the laying down of three new cruisers, one at Devonport Dockyard, he will state whether arrangements are being made for the laying down of these cruisers this year?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe cruiser allocated to Devonport will be ordered before the end of the financial year. The Government have decided that, in the light of the situation disclosed at the recent Geneva Naval Conference, it is not necessary or desirable to proceed with the laying down of the other two ships this year.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWith regard to the ship which is to be laid down at Devonport, may I ask when it will be laid down actually and when the work will be commenced?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe hon. Member knows that the provision in the Estimates was only sufficient to allow these three cruisers to be begun at the end of the financial year. It will be near the end of the financial year before this ship will be laid down.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is no urgency at all about this matter?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhere are the engines of this cruiser to be made 1 Are we to get a share in the machinery?
§ 27. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many cruisers, other than battle-cruisers, were under construction for His Majesty's Navy, other than for His Majesty's Dominions Navies, in each of the years 1911, 1912 and 1913?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe figures as at 1st November in each of the years mentioned are as follow:
| 1911 | 6 |
| 1912 | 10 |
| 1913 | 19 |