§ Mr. E. BROWNasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of vessels of war ordered, laid down, or completed since December, 1924, their classification, and the estimated cost?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe ships ordered or laid down for the Royal Navy since December, 1924, total 22, comprising seven cruisers, one destroyer, six submarines, four gunboats, one depot ship for submarines, one repair ship and two minesweepers, and their total estimated cost is approximately £20,000,000.
The ships laid down before or during December, 1924, but completed since that date total 13, comprising one battleship, three cruisers, one minelayer, two flotilla leaders, one destroyer and five submarines, and their total cost is approximately £18,764,000.
In addition, six ships were ordered and laid down before December, 1924, but are not yet completed. They are the battleship "Rodney" and five "Kent" class cruisers. Their estimated total cost is approximately £18,300,000.
The estimated cost includes cost of armament.