HC Deb 15 June 1927 vol 207 cc1018-9W
Mr. FORREST

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the current Estimates for his Department have increased armaments; if so, to what extent; and in what direction?

Sir S. HOARE

It will be within the hon. Member's and the House's knowledge that the Air Force is being gradually expanded under a programme, approved by successive Governments, designed to provide more adequately than at present for the defence of this country from air attack. The extent and direction of the expansion may be ascertained from the Air Estimates, from my Memorandum accompanying them, and from the statement which I made in the House when introducing them on 10th March.

Mr. FORREST

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the current Estimates for his Department have increased armaments; and, if so, to what extent and in what direction?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The current Estimates provide for continuing the replacement programme of shipbuilding laid before Parliament in July, 1925, and for normal progress on other items. A certain amount of replacement and modernisation is necessarily always in hand, but there is no abnormal development of that replacement programme in the current year's Navy Estimates.

Mr. FORREST

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the current Estimates for his Department have increased armaments; if so, to what extent; and in what direction?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

As the hon. Member will see from pages 8–11, the current Army Estimates provide (apart from the temporary additional numbers required in connection with China) for a reduction in the numbers of the Army.