Miss Wardasked the Prime Minister whether there is to be an additional Defence programme to that already announced;
(2) whether he is considering the possibilitiy of increasing the productive capacity of the country to accelerate the rearmament programme;
(3) whether he is now in a position to give the House the full details of the Defence proposals foreshadowed in his answer on 1st November?
§ The Prime MinisterThe programmes of the Defence Services are kept under constant review. They have recently been reviewed and such adaptation or expansion as is required by changing circumstances has been decided upon.
In regard to the Air programme and to capacity for manufacture of aircraft, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air on l0th November.
As regards the Navy and Army I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made by myself and by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence on 17th November. As then stated, steps are being taken to correct certain deficiencies in the Navy programme, and to increase not only the programme of anti-aircraft production but the capacity of gun manufacture. The 1546W increase of the productive capacity of the country in connection with the armament programme is constantly under consideration.