§ 9. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now say if a decision has been come to as to the date of laying down the new battleships; and whether he can give a promise that one of these ships shall be built in Devonport dock yard?
10. Mr. FOOTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the new battleships will be built in the royal yards or in private yards; and, if in royal yards, will he give consideration to the claims of the Devonport dockyard?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)No decision has yet been reached as to the date for laying down the new battleships. Although the length of the new ships will be less than that of those projected before the Washington Conference, the width is approximately the same, and this would necessitate very extensive alterations to the slip if one of these ships were built in any of the royal yards. Under present circumstances such large additional expenditure cannot be considered.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIn view of the fact that there are so many unemployed in Devonport, would it not be a useful scheme to enlarge one of these slips so as to give employment to these men now out of work?
Mr. FOOTWill the hon. Gentleman have regard to the fact that a vast amount of national capital is sunk in the dockyard which ought to be utilised, but cannot properly be utilised until this small expenditure is incurred?
§ Mr. AMERYI fully realise both of these considerations, but, in connection with the question previously raised, I think I made it clear that, in present circumstances, it would not be desirable to incur that expenditure.