§ 6. Sir R. Rossasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what warships have been transferred to what foreign, Dominion or "Imperial Governments during the past three years.
§ Mr. AlexanderAs the answer to this Question can best be given in tabular form, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the table:
1893| Battleship | Light Fleet Carrier. | Escort Carrier | Crusiers | Destroyers | Submarines | Frigates | Corvettes | Landing Ship (Headquarters). | Landing Craft (Tank). | Minesweepers | Trawlers (A/SM/S) | Motor Minesweepers | Motor Torpedo Boats (incl M.G.B.'s). | Motor Launches. | Harbour Defence Motor Launches. | Boom Vessels | |||||
| BRITISH COMMON WEALTH OF NATIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | l | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Canada | … | … | … | … | — | 1 | — | 2 | 8 | — | 9 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| India | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Zealand | … | … | … | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Union of South Africa | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| FOREIGN COUNTRIES | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgium | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — |
| China | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Denmark | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — |
| France | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 8 | 4 | 21 | — |
| Greece | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | — |
| Iceland | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
| Italy | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 17 | — | — | — | — |
| Netherlands | … | … | … | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 10 | 8 | — | 13 | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Norway | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — |
| Poland | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — |
| Portugal | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Turkey | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| U.S.S,R. | … | … | … | … | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Yugoslavia | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
§ 7. Sir R. Rossasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total displacement tonnage of warships transferred by the British Navy to foreign and Dominion or Imperial Governments during the past three years; and what price has been received for them.
§ Mr. AlexanderA total displacement tonnage of 269,064 has been transferred to foreign, Dominion or Imperial Governments since 1st January, 1943. For those which have been sold, a total sum of£3,014,206 will be paid.
§ Sir R. RossHave we not got very little for this very large quantity of tonnage that has been transferred?
§ Mr. AlexanderWhat I have referred to applies only to that part of the transfers which have been sold. We have made some gifts within the Commonwealth, and we have also loaned ships to foreign Powers.
§ Mr. Henry UsborneDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that in view of the existence of the atom bomb battleships are worthless?
§ Mr. AlexanderI do not agree with the argument.