§ 47. Major PRICEasked the Prime Minister if he can give a date when the decision of the Cabinet as to new naval construction will be made known to the House; and if in view of the impossibility of the House adequately discussing naval policy until such decision is known, he will do all he can to hasten the decision of the Cabinet on this question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs has already been announced, a Cabinet Committee is inquiring into the naval shipbuilding position, but my hon. and gallant Friend will, I am sure, realise that the subject is one of such great importance and of such wide scope that it must inevitably be some considerable time before a final decision is reached.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWith regard to an inquiry of a precisely similar nature which the Labour Government announced in a White Paper last March, may we know whether any records of that inquiry were left behind?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI could not answer that question without notice.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill Supplementary Estimates be submitted to the House immediately after the inquiry?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think a statement has already been made to the effect that, if the results of the inquiry-need Supplementary Estimates, they will be presented, I hope, before Parliament rises for the summer holiday.
§ Major PRICEIn view of the paragraph on this subject in the statement of the. First Lord, is it a fact that new construction will be made this year?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat must largely depend on the result of the inquiry.