HC Deb 09 April 1925 vol 182 cc2431-3W
Major HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty 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; what proportion this sum bears in each case to their total import and export trade and per capita of their population, respectively; and how these figures compare with Great Britain's contributions under these heads?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I have been asked to reply to this question. The contribution of the Dominions to naval defence takes the form of maintenance of their own naval forces and establishments by the Governments of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa. The amounts provided in the Estimates of the undermentioned parts of the Empire for the year 1924–25 are as follow:

UNITED KINGDOM—£55,800,000.

  • Expenditure per head, £1 4s. 10d.
  • Population, 44,911,637.
  • Total import and export trade 1924, £2,215,358,135.
  • Amount spent on naval defence for every £1,000 of total import and export trade, £25 3s. 9d.

CANADA—$1,400,000.

  • Expenditure per head, $0.15.
  • Population, 9,229,740.
  • Total import and export trade 1924, $1,878,786,189.
  • Amount spent on naval defence for every $1,000 of total import and export trade, $0.74.

THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA—£2,318,164.

  • Expenditure per head, 8s.
  • Population, 5,803,590.
  • Total import and export trade, Jan.-Sept., 1924, £199,802,008.
  • Amount spent on naval defence for every £1,000 of total import and export trade, £8 14s. 0d.

There are, in addition, special appropriations of £3,000,000 for naval construction and £1,500,000 for defence purposes generally, which are proposed to be expended over a number of years.

NEW ZEALAND—£523,079.

  • Expenditure per head, 8s.
  • Population, 1,301,970.
  • Total import and export trade, Jan.-Nov., 1924, £90,719,049.
  • Amount spent on naval defence for every £1,000 of total import and export trade, £5 5s. 8d.

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA, £142,035.

  • Expenditure per head, 1s.9d.
  • Population, 1,579,733.
  • Total import and export trade, Jan.-Nov., 1924, £129,367,349.
  • Amount spent on naval defence for every £1,000 of total import and export trade,£1 0s. 1d.

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). Northern Ireland, being part of the United Kingdom, contributes to British naval expenditure in the same way as other parts.

With regard to the Colonies and Protectorates, the contributions to Imperial defence made by the Governments of Hong Kong, Straits Settlements, Ceylon and Mauritius are paid, not to the Admiralty, but to the War Office.