§ 86. Mr. DONNERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the reason why no sums have been allotted for the rearmament of the three Hawkins-class cruisers in the Estimates covering the period up to March, 1937?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lord Stanley)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. M. Beaumont).
§ Mr. DONNERArising out of that reply, is it not a fact that, unless sums are allocated for this purpose, this country will possess eight fewer cruisers on 1st January, 1937, compared with 1st January of this year, since five "C" class cruisers will be scrapped altogether?
§ 87. Mr. DONNERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the reason why more money has been voted for demilitarising the cruiser "Vindictive," than for building any cruisers of this year's programme?
§ 96. Mr. EMMOTTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that Part II, paragraph 26, of the White Paper of 3rd March states that five cruisers will be included in the 1936 programme, he will give the reasons why sums are allotted in the Supplementary Estimate (Navy), dated 28th April, for building four cruisers only, thus deferring the building of a fifth until after 31st March, 1937?
Lord STANLEYThe present cadet training cruiser "Frobisher" has to be taken in hand for removal of her 7.5 inch guns before 31st December and is due for large refit in any case. It is essential therefore to have a cruiser ready to replace "Frobisher" by the end of the year, and "Vindictive" has been selected. In view of this and of the need to demilitarise her by 31st December in order to comply with the tonnage specification of the London Naval Treaty, 1930, a relatively large sum has been provided in the Supplementary Estimate for demilitarising her and fitting her out for her new service. Of the five cruisers of the 1930 programme orders for two are due to be placed in September, 1936. Of the other three cruisers two will be built at the Royal Dockyards and one by contract. The orders for these three ships are due to be placed in mid-March, 1937, and although a small amount is provided for spending on the two dockyard ships in this Estimate, no instalments on the contract built ship will be earned in the financial year. Consequently no pro- 1375 vision is made in the Supplementary Estimate for the fifth vessel.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSWill these demilitarised cruisers form the nucleus of the new League of Nations force?
§ 88. Mr. DONNERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state why, since it is the Government's intention to scrap five C-class cruisers this year, one of these ships is now undergoing, or has just completed, a refit at Devonport?
§ 89. Mr. CARTLANDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how much has been spent on reconditioning the five C-class cruisers during the last 12 months?
Lord STANLEYDuring the past financial year no money has been spent on reconditioning those C-class cruisers which may be included among the ships to be scrapped beyond expenditure necessary for their normal maintenance.