§ 55. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Prime Minister whether he has any announcement to make about the 1928 programme of naval construction?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. A. V. Alexander)I have been asked to reply. I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on the 10th July [OFFICIAL REPORT, column 855, Vol. 229].
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMay I ask the Prime Minister, or the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether it is quite clear 622 that before any important decision of policy reversing the Naval programme of the present year is taken, Parliament will be informed and will have an opportunity of expressing its opinion?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs this is a matter of business, perhaps the House will allow me to answer Certainly not. The Government will take just the ordinary powers of a Government in that respect.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs I understand it, the present position is this, that the programme has already been declared. What I am asking the Prime Minister is, should he depart from that, will he take that decision at a time when Parliament is sitting, and will he give the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy reply to that is this, that the Government will just exercise its judgment, with the full knowledge of its responsibility to this House. Beyond that, it is impossible at the moment to go.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAre we, then, to understand that a most grave and important decision of this kind is being withheld until Parliament has separated for nearly three months?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the House will allow me to say so, I think that is a most unworthy suggestion.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWill the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to secure for the House facilities for ventilating this topic before we separate for so long a period?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have said over and over again that I am doing my very best to get the negotiations to a point which would enable me to make an announcement before the House rises, but, as the right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, it is not in my hands alone. When one is dealing with, international affairs, it is not with the Cabinet that one is dealing or with a department, but with a very complicated set of circumstances. I say that I am doing my best to expedite matters so that an announcement may be made before the House rises, but, if it is impossible, I cannot do it, and I hope the House will not ask me to tie my hands.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that, quite apart from the national importance of this matter, seeing that this programme is a year behind, it is necessary to make as early an announcement as possible, because it affects the livelihood of many thousands of people in the Naval ports?
Viscountess ASTORWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that his followers have many supporters in the Naval ports?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYBefore the Prime Minister replies to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha), may I ask whether it is not a fact that in 1928 the last Government dropped certain war vessels,
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question is quite irrelevant to the question on the Paper.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I, with all respect, Mr. Speaker, put it to you that my question is relevant to the questions which have been put across the Floor of the House by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI hope, Mr. Speaker, that you will allow the Prime Minister to answer my question, as he has been courteous enough to indicate that he is willing to do so. I do not see that I should be ruled out because other hon. Members ask questions which are irrelevant.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI was going to say that the situation is very fully in our minds at the moment.