§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any light cruisers or other war vessels have been commenced, laid down, ordered, or tendered for since the last meeting of Parliament?
§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of the light cruisers included in the projected programme of new construction will be allocated to Devonport; and, if so, whether he can state for how many men and for what period he contemplates the building of a light cruiser will give employment?
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government still adheres to its intention of placing orders for several light cruisers to stimulate shipbuilding, especially in those ports where orders are few and unemployment considerable; if so, what is the cause of the delay in asking for tenders; and whether, in the allocation of any contracts, the claims of Barrow-in-Furness will be taken into consideration and one vessel allocated to the town?
§ Mr. AMERYThe intention of the Government in this matter has been made clear in the King's Speech, and I propose, in the course of the next few days' Debate, to give the House full information as to the programme in contemplation. No action has been taken, pending the sanction of Parliament, but such progress has been made with the designs and specifications of the vessels that it will be possible to issue invitations to tender directly the authority of Parliament has been obtained. The claims of the Royal Dockyards and the various shipbuilding centres will receive careful consideration when the tenders have been received.