§ 40. Mr. Powellasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what types of vessel other than hunter-killer submarines the decision announced in Command Paper No. 3515, to reduce the rate of construction, refers.
§ 32. Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a detailed statement about the future programme of naval construction, with special reference to submarines and anti-submarine vessels.
§ Mr. MasonWe shall be looking at the whole of the planned naval new construction programme in depth, and it will be 1346 some time before precise reductions are decided.
§ Mr. PowellIf the Government had no idea at the time of what alterations they were to make in the naval building programme, how did they dare to make the announcement of 16th January and take financial credit for it in their estimates?
§ Mr. MasonThe right hon. Gentleman will know that when long lead items have been ordered for certain vessels it is difficult to turn them back. All these were planned. No new items have been ordered and, therefore, no new expenditure incurred. We can take action to slow down the naval new construction programme, but this will not only affect submarines but other vessels as well.