§ 22. Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the designs of the cruisers for a cruiser programme are ready, so that they can be offered for tenders forthwith when the Cabinet has reached a decision on the programme of shipbuilding; and whether, in framing their programme, the Admiralty have taken account of the necessity of preserving the surviving firms which have plant for making steel forgings?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Bridgeman)No delay is anticipated in issuing the tenders and designs in the event of the construction of any new cruisers being approved, nor is any difficulty expected in obtaining the forgings required.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThere is another question about that.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the increasing anxiety that prevails in the dockyard towns owing to the delay of the Government in reaching a decision, particularly in view of the fact that the Prime Minister chose Plymouth as the place at which to say that a largely increased programme would be necessary?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware that is so.
§ 49. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Prime Minister if the Government proposes to have new cruisers built other than those provided for in the Estimates now before the House; and, if so, how 1506 many new cruisers, what will be the cost of them, and when the Supplementary Estimates will be placed before the House?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. I hope that an announcement on this subject will be made shortly.