§ Sir J. POWERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the British Government to propose at the three-Power naval conference in June the reduction of the maximum size of warships; and whether he can state what is the approximate cost of construction and annual upkeep of a 10,000-ton cruiser armed with eight-inch guns and a 6,000-ton cruiser armed with six-inch guns, respectively?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot anticipate the procedure at the Conference by making an official statement beforehand regarding the proposals which His Majesty's Government may put forward at Geneva.
As regards the second part of the question, the approximate cost is as follows:
10,000-ton cruiser. £ Cost of construction 2,140,000 Annual cost of maintenance in full commission 215,000 6,000-ton cruiser. Cost of construction 1,150,000 Annual cost of maintenance in full commission 150,000 The cost of construction in both cases includes armament, ammunition and reserves of same.