HC Deb 03 February 1943 vol 386 cc881-3
28. Mr. Shinwell

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any estimate of the number of underwater craft in the possession of the Germans and Italians; whether he has any estimate of the numbers under construction; and whether we are sinking enemy submarines faster than they are being built?

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. V. Alexander)

The Admiralty, of course, has estimates of enemy building capacity and operational strength. No doubt the enemy would like to know what our actual estimates are. It is not possible to answer the last part of the hon. Member's Question because of the difficulty in proving the results of all the numerous attacks on enemy U-boats. Whilst, however, I can say we have had periods of most heartening success, it would not be wise at this stage to add anything to the general conclusions contained in the Prime Minister's Statement to the House of Commons on 8th September.

Mr. Shinwell

Why does the Minister give that answer when he himself said in one of his speeches recently that the enemy had over 500 submarines? Why does he now say that the enemy would give a lot to know what our estimate was?

Mr. Alexander

I did not necessarily give any exact estimate, and I am not now giving any exact figures. I have given from time to time figures which would not be exact estimates for the information of the enemy, and I did not do so on that occasion.

Mr. Shinwell

When the Minister said to the public that the enemy had in his opinion 500 or more submarines, what was his purpose in saying that, and how did he get the information? If he said it then; why cannot he say it now and tell us whether it was exact?

Mr. Alexander

I have nothing to add to my answer.

Mr. Shinwell

Are we to assume from that that the Minister refuses to answer or that he has been discovered in having made a mistake?

Mr. Alexander

Neither assumption is right.

Commander Sir Archibald Southby

Does the right hon. Gentleman still adhere to the statement which he made a little while ago that for every submarine we claim probably two have been sunk?

Mr. Shinwell

Would it not be better if the Minister stopped talking outside for a change?