§ 52. Dame Irene Wardasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the recent statement, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Tynemouth, of the President of the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders regarding naval shipbuilding; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's present naval shipbuilding programme.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingI have read the statement referred to with considerable interest. Details of the ships under construction for the Royal Navy will be found in the Navy Estimates and in my noble Friend's Explanatory Statement, which will be published shortly. In the current financial year some £50 million will be spent on contract built warships for the Royal Navy and, on repayment, for Commonwealth governments.