§ 57. Captain BERKELEYasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the doubt existing on the matter, the cruisers 41 proposed to be replaced by the accelerated programme have, or have not, been scrapped; and, if so, on what date they were scrapped?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs this House has already been informed, the Government have appointed a Cabinet Committee to consider the requirements of the Navy as regards the replacement of units of the Fleet, and normally the question of the building of the new cruisers would have awaited the consideration of the Committee's recommendations, but in view of the serious unemployment and of the urgency of cruiser replacement, the Government decided that the laying down of the five cruisers should be submitted to the House for approval with the Navy Estimates to be presented next month.
§ Captain BERKELEYWill the right Gentleman answer the question whether the cruisers proposed to be replaced have or have not been scrapped? If he will refer to the Debate he will see that there is doubt on the subject.
§ The PRIME MINISTERSo far as my speech is concerned, there is no doubt. I said that the cruisers of the County class had been scrapped, but there was no system in the scrapping. As soon as a Government came in in a position to systematise both scrapping and replacement, they would have to begin their policy at the point of the scrapping of the County class.
§ Captain BERKELEYAt what date were they scrapped?
§ Captain Viscount CURZONThe right hon. Gentleman said a Committee is being set up. Is it a Cabinet Committee or a sub-Committee or the Committee of imperial Defence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERA Cabinet Committee.
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEHas anything been settled with regard to the remainder of the naval programme—the submarines, etc.