§ Mr. WATTasked whether the recent necessity of having the various squadrons of the Fleet speedily united has led or will lead his Department to reconsider the advisability of having a ship canal across Scotland?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am not aware of any recent necessity of having the various squadrons of the Fleet speedily united that has not been fully met by the regular strategic distributions. The conclusions of the Committee of Imperial Defence, given on page 183 of the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Canals, are still perfectly valid.
§ Mr. WATTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether or not it is a question of finance that prevents his Department from going on with such a scheme?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAll questions of finance are relative. The desirability of various objects must always be compared with the desirability of other objects.