§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the amount which the Russian Government propose to spend upon naval construction during the next five years; and what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take, especially in the way of increased naval construction, in order to maintain British naval supremacy?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYNo, Sir, I am not prepared at the present moment to make a statement on the subject of the first Question of my 873 right honourable Friend. As to his second Question, I must ask him to await the statement which I shall make when Vote 8 is taken. In the meantime let me refer him to what was said yesterday by the right honourable Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to the speech of the right honourable Gentleman the Member for the Forest of Dean.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTCan the right honourable Gentleman state when he will be able to reply to the first part of the Question; and can he now, or at a later date, inform the House if it is a fact that the Russian Government propose to spend £80,000,000 upon naval construction during the next 10 years?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYAs I have told my honourable Friend, I am not prepared to make a statement upon the subject of naval construction. On Vote 8 of the Navy Estimates it will naturally be my duty to enter upon the subject of what construction is necessary.