§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Japan has announced any additions to her future naval programme which are not included in the Return of Fleets presented to Parliament this year, and if these ships represent any addition to programmes before the Government when the present British replacement programme was decided?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Information that the Japanese Government. had definitely authorised the laying down of four of the destroyers, shown as projected on page 63 of the Return of Fleets, was received after His Majesty's Government had reached a decision in regard to the British replacement programme.