§ 61. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the estimated cost during the period of the Treaty of maintaining our construction on the basis of the requirements mentioned in Command Paper 3620?
§ The CIVIL LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. George Hall)The hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that Command Paper 3620 indicates with precision our requirements for naval construction over the period of the Treaty. On the contrary, it is there explained why His Majesty's Government were unable to put forward a programme of building to cover that period at the present time. As was stated in the reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on 2nd July (OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 1941) any estimate of the sort could he neither accurate nor useful, as it would have to be based upon all sorts of assumptions for which there is at present insufficient warrant.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs my hon. Friend aware that his answer destroys the whole purpose of the White Paper, which lays down certain minimum requirements, and my question is, what will be the cost to the country if those minimum requirements are met?
§ Mr. HALLI would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the latter part of paragraph 2 and to paragraph 3 of the White Paper, which he will see bears out what I stated in the reply to this question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOn the ordinary average, will not the cost of building this programme be about £70,000,000?