§ 36. Mr. Parkerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty by how much will the increase in the price of base metals, since the publication of the White Paper on 16th February, augment the cost of each of the three new capital ships to be built in 1937–38 above the cost of approximately £8,000,000 each for the two ships included in the 1936 new construction programme?
§ The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)The figure of £8,000,000 for the new type of capital ship is a round sum estimate of complete building costs. On the information at present available, I foresee no appreciable difference in the costs of the 1937 capital ships as compared with those of the two ships included in the 1936 programme. Naturally any rise in the prices of base metals will be reflected in the price of ship construction, and this matter is being closely watched.
Mr. AlexanderWill the Civil Lord lay before the House a White Paper giving the reasons for this extraordinary increase of £1,000,000 in these ships since 1926?
§ Mr. LindsayThat matter will come up on the Estimates.