18. Mr. ROBINSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the technical advisers of the Admiralty are still in favour of the construction of capital ships of the "Nelson" type; and whether, seeing the great divergence of opinion as to the usefulness of these ships either for offence or defence, he will cease making preparations for the construction of additional ships of war of this class?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANUnder Article 21 of the Washington Treaty, a conference must be convened in 1931 to consider any changes necessary to meet technical and scientific developments. In the meantime, the construction of capital ships is governed by the provisions of this Treaty. The views of His Majesty's Government as to the desirability of reducing the size and power of capital ships by international agreement were made public at the Geneva Three-Power Naval Conference in 1927, and at the Preparatory Commission in March, 1928.