§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state, in respect of the current year, how much money has been contributed by each of the Dominions and Crown Colonies towards naval defence?
§ Mr. AMERYI understand that the estimated expenditure on naval defence for 1926–27 in the ease of the various Dominions is as follows:
Canada, ․1,500,000.
Commonwealth of Australia, £5,300,000 (including £2,500,000 for fleet construction).
50WNew Zealand, £545,526 (not including interest and sinking fund in respect of a, loan raised in the past for the construction of H.M.S. "New Zealand," amounting to approximately £147,403 annually).
Union of South Africa, £145,184.
As regards the Irish Free State, I would refer the hon. Member to Article 6 of the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland (Cmd. 1560).
As regards the Colonies and Protectorates, the contributions made to Imperial Defence by the Governments of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, Ceylon, and Mauritius are paid, not to the Admiralty, but to the War Office.
Of the special contribution of £250,000 made by Hong Kong towards the cost of the Singapore Base, £110,000 has been paid during the current financial year.