15. Miss WARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many cruisers have still to be allocated under this year's naval programme; and when the allocations may be expected?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe 1936 New Construction programme includes seven cruisers, two of which have already been ordered by contract. Of the remaining five vessels, three are to be built by contract and tenders for these will be invited in the course of the next few weeks, with a view to the placing of orders about February next. The other two ships will be built in His Majesty's dockyards, and construction will, it is anticipated, commence in March.