HC Deb 19 November 1947 vol 444 cc1132-3
40. Commander Noble

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present size of the Pacific Fleet; and how many of these ships are now in or east of Singapore.

Mr. Dugdale

I regret I am unable to give the information asked for, and in this connection I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence in reply to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. J. P. L. Thomas) during the Debate on the Address on 27th October, 1947.

Commander Noble

In view of the fact that there is really no need for secrecy on this subject, could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether an estimate of two cruisers and eight destroyers is fair?

Mr. Dugdale

Really, Sir, I am not going to be led into making guesses. [HON. MEMBERS: "Guesses? "] All right, then, I am not going to be led into making statements. The hon. and gallant Member is quite entitled to make his own guesses, and I am not going to say whether such guesses are correct or are incorrect.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in the Press last week there were reports giving detailed information, which came from high ranking Australian naval officers, about some alarming cuts in the Pacific Fleet, and is it not time that this House was told whether these reports are correct?

Mr. Dugdale

No, Sir. We do not think it desirable to give the general disposition of the Fleet, and the dispositions of the Fleet in the Pacific are among those details which it is not considered desirable to give.

Sir Ronald Ross

Has the Admiralty received any representation from Australia or New Zealand as to their concern at the weakness of the Pacific Fleet?

Mr. Dugdale

No, Sir, we have received none. We have kept them informed and we have received no such representation.

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