§ 15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty at what period of the year the new construction of warships for this year would have been commenced normally if no invitation had been received from the President of the United States of America to a conference on naval shipbuilding; and at what date in this year will this new construction commence, especially of the three cruisers to be built this year?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNormally the orders would be placed in the early autumn. This year we had decided, before the message from President Coolidge arrived, to order the two minesweepers in September and the rest in February.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThen this postponement has nothing at all to do with the coming conference, and in that case will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of a further postponement?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, Sir; as I said in the answer, it had nothing to do with the coming conference, but I am not prepared to consider any further postponement.