HC Deb 23 November 1927 vol 210 cc1771-2
18. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the new facts disclosed at the recent Naval Conference at Geneva which have caused the Government to decide that it is no longer necessary to proceed with the laying down of the two cruisers intended to be laid down this year?

22. Colonel HOWARD-BURY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many 10,000-ton cruisers are building and how many it is proposed to build in the next three years?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

Eleven 10,000-ton cruisers are building for the Royal Navy. Our published programme does not ex- tend beyond 1929, and provides for one 10,000-ton cruiser, in addition to two smaller cruisers to be built in each of the years 1927, 1928, and 1929. A new situation has arisen owing to the fact that at Geneva, although our proposal for the limitation of the number of 10,000-ton cruisers was not agreed to, the discussions led to the hope that a limitation may be reached, and in these circumstances His Majesty's Government are reluctant to lay down any more of these large 10,000-ton cruisers at present. Accordingly, we have dropped two ships from the 1927 programme, one of them a 10,000-ton cruiser and one a smaller ship the substitution of which in lieu of a 10,000-ton cruiser in the 1928 programme is a question still under consideration.

Sir W. DAVISON

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House and the country that the withholding of the starting of these ships will in no way imperil the protection of our trade routes and the protection of our supplies of food, of which there is only seven weeks' supply in this country?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

Yes, Sir.

Viscountess ASTOR

May I ask, is anyone attacking the food supplies of the country?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I think the hon. Member will agree with me when I say that it is necessary to provide in advance for the defence of our trade routes.

Mr. THURTLE

Will the First Lord bear in mind that the country will be very well pleased if he will drop the other cruiser from his programme this year?

HON. MEMBERS

No!

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I am unaware what authority the hon. Member has to speak for the country.

Mr. SPEAKER

We cannot have a Navy Estimates Debate just now.