§ 22. Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make a statement about recent decisions on new naval construction.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThere have been no decisions on naval new construction, since those already announced to the House at the time of the Navy Estimates. We are considering the submarine building programme, but I am not able at present to make any general statement about this.
§ Commander PurseyAre these decisions made after the Navy Estimates have been passed so that they are not debatable until the following year's Navy Estimates debate, or is all the expenditure required for new construction this year included in the current Navy Estimates?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingYes, money needed for new construction this year is included in the current Navy Estimates. We have always been at some pains to try to announce new construction as ships are laid down, and to keep the House of Commons and the country fully informed on this issue.