§ 92. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is in a position to state whether any of the vessels of the suspended naval programme are now to be laid down; and what are the types of the war vessels it is intended to build:
Mr. ALEXANDERI have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) on 14th April (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 2630).
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that the two extra ships are being proceeded with before we know what the fate of the Treaty will be on the other side of the Atlantic?
Mr. ALEXANDERI think the hon. and gallant Gentleman is under a distinct misapprehension. The statement which I made on the Navy Estimates was that we should not proceed with the 1930 naval construction programme until after the Conference. The position of the 1929 programme is already settled. There are three cruisers in that programme, two have been cancelled, and we are proceeding with one.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes that convey that the answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) does not mean that more ships will be laid down and that there will be no Supplementary Estimate?
Mr. ALEXANDERNo, the Supplementary Estimate deals with two points. In the first place, with the question of the submarines which were suspended in the revised 1929 programme; and, secondly, whatever initial provision may be necessary in regard to the new 1930 programme.
§ Mr. CHURCHILL1930 cruiser programme?