§ 46. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the scrapping by the United States of three super-dreadnought battleships in advance of the Naval Treaty date, by which it is anticipated that 4,000,000 dollars will be saved; and whether we intend to reciprocate by advancing the date of scrapping of some of our own battleships surplus to the treaty limitations?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENInformation has been received that one of the United States battleships to be disposed of has been de-commissioned and that the other two have been placed in reserve. No information has yet been received, however, as to when work on these three vessels is to commence. We have already proceeded one step further, as the "Benbow" has been paid off, and the work of preparing the ship for sale is already in hand.