§ 21 22. Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether it is proposed to scrap the cruisers of the "Hawkins" class in view of the fact that they will be surplus to authorised tonnage under the London Naval Treaty by 1936, or whether it will be possible to convert these vessels so that they can be scheduled under Category (b) of Article 16 of that Treaty;
(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the overdue replacement programme for cruisers carrying 6.1-inch guns or under; and when he expects to be in a position to announce the new building programme in this connection?
§ 31. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to state what additional new war shipbuilding will be undertaken in the present financial year?
Mr. ALEXANDERAll relevant considerations will be taken into account by His Majesty's Government in the examination, which they are undertaking with the least possible delay, of naval construction policy in the light of the London Navy Treaty. I cannot yet say when it will be possible to make any statement on the subject.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYDoes the hon. Gentleman anticipate that it will be necessary to introduce Supplementary Estimates to meet these demands?
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the ships in question are affected by Article 20 of the Treaty, and will he explain how it is that this country has a special limitation on replacements put upon it?
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISH rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere must be some limit to these supplementary questions.
§ 30. Mr. MORLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what will be the effect of the Three-Power Naval Agreement upon the construction, in this country, of torpedo-boats and destroyers; and if he will allocate such construction between private and Government dockyards in such a way as to maintain the normal volume of employment in each?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe question of future naval construction is now under consideration by His Majesty's Government. I am not in a position at present to make any statement on the subject but I can assure my hon. Friend that new construction will be allocated with due regard to economy and the requirements of the employment situation.