HC Deb 23 June 1920 vol 130 cc2160-2

The following stood in the name of Viscount Curzon:

19. To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended to sell any capital ships, light cruisers, or destroyers to any foreign Power other than the ships already announced to be sold to Chile; and, if so, can he make a statement upon it?

Viscount CURZON

Before asking this question, may I inquire whether you, Sir, have noticed a most extraordinary buzzing here to-day? I do not know if it can be stopped?

Mr. SPEAKER

There is always a "buzzing."

Mr. LONG

The reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the affirmative, but I cannot make a statement about negotiations still in progress.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Surely the right hon. Gentleman can inform the House whether it is intended to sell any modern ships abroad, and, if so, whether it is with the proviso that they are to be broken up?

Mr. LONG

That question has been answered I should think at least half-a-dozen times in complete detail. I have told the House repeatedly that ships which are surplus to post-War requirements will be sold under conditions which are approved not only by the Board of Admiralty but by the special staff of the Board of Admiralty whose special duty this is. If we do not sell our ships to countries which want them, someone else will. Meanwhile, it is wholly inconsistent with the action taken by the hon. and gallant Gentleman himself, and others, to press on the Admiralty a policy of economy if we are to be deterred from selling ships we do not want.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Where does the economy come in if we sell efficient ships abroad and then have to provide defence against them in future?

Mr. LONG

I am rather surprised that the hon. and gallant Gentleman, who has served in the Navy, takes that view. The ships that we are selling are surplus to our requirements. In other words, in the opinion of the Board of Admiralty they would not be helpful to the Navy in future. Any ships that are built will be of such a type as to be of value to the Navy.

Captain WEDGWOOD BENN

In calculating the necessary naval forces of the country, will any account be taken of ships to be disposed of to potential foes?

Mr. LONG

In deciding upon the post-War Navy the Admiralty have had under consideration, as far as is humanly possible to-day, the risks to which this country can at sea be exposed, and all our post-War fleet in men and in ships is fixed accordingly. In any future policy that we may adopt we must, quite obviously, in regard to building consider the facts as they are.

Captain BENN

Am I right in supposing that we have calculated our post-War fleet purely on the basis of the ships of which we have disposed of to other countries?

Mr. LONG

The hon. and gallant Member is looking at the matter from the wrong end. The Admiralty, by a most careful examination of the facts, have arrived at what they believe to be, and are prepared to defend as, an adequate Navy for the safety of this country, and, having decided how that Navy is to be constituted both as to men and ships, the rest of the ships are for disposal.