HC Deb 29 November 1933 vol 283 cc860-1
11. Mr. LIDDALL

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is his intention to construct ships up to the maximum treaty limits?

Lord STANLEY

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement by my right hon. Friend made on this subject in the course of a Debate on 30th November, 1932. As regards cruisers, we are building as much new tonnage as the London Naval Treaty allows us to build. As regards destroyers and submarines, we are not building all the new tonnage that we might: in view of the importance of maintaining a steady replacement programme, we prefer to retain, temporarily, a corresponding amount of existing tonnage.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is it not a fact that we are entitled to spend something like £39,000,000 under the Treaty, and did not the First Lord tell me a short time ago that we had only authorised some £8,000,000 or £9,000,000 of that £39,000,000

Lord STANLEY

In answering those questions, we were dealing in terms of tonnage, and not of money.

Vice-Admiral TAYLOR

Is it not a fact that our position with regard to destroyers over age, and therefore obsolete and capable of being replaced under the London Treaty, is so large that we can build a complete flotilla for many years to conic and yet not overstep the mark?

Lord STANLEY

I said we prefer to keep to a steady programme of building one flotilla a year so that we can embody new improvements.

Vice-Admiral TAYLOR

We can still build two and not overstep.