HC Deb 22 September 1948 vol 456 c870
34. Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now make a further statement regarding the transfer of H.M.S. "Ajax" to Chile.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Walter Edwards)

I regret that I am not in a position to add to the information already given to the House.

Mr. Thomas

Will the Civil Lord impress upon the Government that the darker the international situation grows, the firmer their decision should be not to sell any serviceable ship, above all H.M.S. "Ajax," to a country still in illegal possession of British territory?

Mr. Edwards

The Government will bear in mind anything which the hon. Gentleman has to say on naval matters.

Sir Ronald Ross

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Navy is very much under strength in cruisers, according to all the normal estimates of what cruisers we require to look after our trade?

Mr. Edwards

We do not quite accept that. In any case, this is a very old ship which, obviously, will not be of great use to the Royal Navy in a number of years' time.