HC Deb 17 July 1929 vol 230 cc412-3

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY:

23.—To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of the submarines of this year's building programme have not yet been laid down; and, if not, whether he is in a position to make any announcement on the matter?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I have been asked to postpone this question. May I put it down for Wednesday of next week?

Mr. ALEXANDER

I would rather reply to it now, as I propose, with the permission of the hon. Members concerned, to answer with it Question No. 28 and also Question No. 45, addressed to the Prime Minister, to which I have been asked to reply.

28. Colonel HOWARD-BURY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed to carry out the full naval programme of 1928 as regards all classes of vessels?

45. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Prime Minister what modifications he proposes in this year's war-shipbuilding programme, in view of the forthcoming conference on naval armaments?

Mr. ALEXANDER

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) on the 10th July [OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 855]. No submarines of the 1929 building programme have yet been laid down.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Will my right hon. Friend say definitely when he expects to be in a position to make a further announcement, if I repeat the question later?

Mr. ALEXANDER

It is difficult to give an actual date. The Prime Minister intends to make an announcement on the whole question, including the naval programme and other matters, and I could not give the actual date without consultation with my right hon. Friend.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I will put a question down when my right hon. Friend is in a position to answer it.