§ 14. Mr. G. HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the danger of the publication of unofficial statements of the Government's naval programme until 1942, he will now consider making an official pronouncement on the matter?
Sir BOLTON EYRES MONSELLNo, Sir. The naval programme of this country cannot be determined until the results of the Naval Conference and the programmes of other Powers are known, and as no official pronouncement can therefore be made, no attention need be paid to unofficial and irresponsible statements.
§ Mr. HALLWill not the First Lord take the House and the country into his confidence and state whether the Board of Admiralty intend to have an early replacement of battleships, and an increase in the number of cruisers from 50 to 70?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLOf course, we are going to rebuild our Fleet, as we are doing at present, but I can give no pronouncement as to future programmes. The House will have the Navy Estimates wider control from year to year.
§ Mr. HALLHas the projected programme for battleships already been submitted to America, Germany, France, and other important naval Powers?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLNaturally, we have had to put forward a hypothetical programme to see what we want, and we cannot possibly say, and I cannot make any pronouncement to the House, until the Naval Conference takes place, and we know what other countries are going to do.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISIs it not correct that the Government cannot commit themselves to any building without the approval of the Estimates by this House?
§ Mr. N. MACLEANWhat is the difference between a hypothetical programme and a projected programme?