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Resolutions reported—
That it is expedient to authorize (b) the creation of a Naval Defence Account, to which moneys issued for the aforesaid purposes may be carried, and the advance, out of the Consolidated Fund, and the temporary borrowing, on the security of the Consolidated Fund, of any sums which may be required to meet excess of expenditure in any financial year.
That it is expedient to authorize (c) the adoption of provisions to carry the above objects into effect.
§ SIR W. PLOWDEN (Wolverhampton, W.)I do not wish to detain the House for more than a moment; but, Sir, I desire to take this opportunity of asking the Government to give us assurance that the Naval Estimates Committee of last year will be reconstituted in the present year. That Committee sat for only one Session and was not able to complete its labours, reporting on only four votes. The Army Estimates Committee, on the contrary, sat for practically two Sessions and completed its labours.
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, Order! I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Gentleman, but he is not in order in raising a discussion on this subject at this stage.
§ SIR W. PLOWDENAm I not in order in asking the Government for an assurance that the Naval Estimates Committee will be reconstituted?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman may put a question.
§ SIR W. PLOWDENThen I ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can give me such an assurance?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI have received no notice of this question, though it is of a character which renders due notice most desirable. Speaking offhand, and having in view the large amount of work before the House, I do not think it would be desirable to re-appoint the Naval Estimates Committee in the present Session. A very careful consideration was given to the matter by the Government last Session, and I do not think it would be in the interest of public business to re-appoint the Committee.
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I should like to remind the right hon. Gentleman that, while the Army Estimates Committee has gone through all the Votes, the Naval Estimates Committee has not dealt with several important Votes.
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHAgain, I say, I think that these questions ought not to be sprung upon the House. While I do not think it desirable to re-appoint the Committee this Session, I by no means wish to exclude a further consideration of the Estimates.
§ SIR E. REED (Cardiff)I should like to ask what opportunity will be furnished to the House in the course of procedure after the introduction of the Bill, for discussing and taking the sense of the House upon the question of the 1813 description of vessels to be built? The French Government is building fast cruisers covered all over with thin armour to keep out the new melenite shells. In the Admiralty scheme some of the 60 cruisers are to be laid down two or three years hence, and not one of them has this kind of protection. The First Lord of the Admiralty must see that an opportunity ought to be provided for discussing and taking the opinion of the House upon such a question.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONI think that the question is one which can be discussed either on the Second Heading of, or in Committee on, the Bill. Although the French are building one or two cruisers, there is only one covered with thin armour; and if the hon. Member for Cardiff declares that such is a better mode of protection than that adopted by the Admiralty, I am prepared to combat that view. Undoubtedly opportunity will be afforded for the discussion of the question.
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Resolutions agreed to.
Ordered, That the Resolution which was upon the 4th instant reported from the Committee on Naval Defence, and was then agreed to by the House, be now read;
That it is expedient to authorize (a) the expenditure of a sum not exceeding £21,500,000, for the purpose of building, arming, equipping, and completing for sea vessels for Her Majesty's Navy; of this expenditure a sum not exceeding £10,000,000 to be issued out of the Consolidated Fund in the seven years ending on the 31stday of March 1896; and a sum not exceeding £11,500,000, to be issued out of moneys provided by Parliament for Naval Services during the five financial years ending on the 31st day of March 1894.
Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolution, and upon the Resolutions this day agreed to by the House; and that Mr. Courtney, Mr. William Henry Smith, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord George Hamilton, and Sir Michael Hicks Beach do prepare and bring it in.
Bill presented, and read first time. [Bill 186.]