§ 17. Mr. LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if there is any public reason for withholding the naval building programme of the Government; and, if not, will he give information as to the number and class of ships now building, or contemplated to be laid down, by the Admiralty before the 31st March next?
§ Mr. LONGThe Navy Estimates, which will be published very shortly, will contain full information in regard to ships under construction.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill the Naval Estimates be published before the end of this part of the Session?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKECan the right hon. Gentleman give the date when the Naval Estimates; will be taken?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman publish before the Estimates are taken the Return— known, I think, as the Dilke Return— showing the ships already built and other various details?
§ Mr. LONGNo; we shall give with the Navy Estimates all the information that is usually given when the Estimates are presented to Parliament.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill that usual statement include the statement usually made before the War by the First Lord of the Admiralty?
§ Mr. LONGOn the whole, I think not. The termination of the War and the present situation is such as to make it undesirable that we should issue a statement of the same character as issued before the War, and when we were at peace.