§ 46. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that for different can see both the Japanese and American warship building programmes have been retarded for at least one year; and whether he will consider this opportunity of effecting a saving of money and a bettering of the conditions for an agreement on naval disarmament by deliberately retarding the British shipbuilding programme in answer to the retardation of the programmes of the two next strongest naval Powers?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. Clynes)The answer to the first part of the question is, that Congressional authorisation for the United States building programme has been delayed until December next, and that the Japanese programme has been delayed for a year. As regards the second part, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on 19th June and to the replies given by the Prime Minister on 23rd June.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre we to understand that whatever these other friendly naval Powers do we are still going on with our building programme, quite regardless of these facts?
§ Viscount CURZONIs the hon. Member aware that these ships are required for the replacement of obsolete ships and are in no sense being built in competition with other countries?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis matter has already been debated.