§ 69. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now state the estimated cost of the proposed naval exercises in the West Indies; how much fuel is to be consumed; and what is the number of ships involved.
Mr. DugdaleFourteen ships will take part in the exercises in the West Indies. It is estimated that 40,000 tons of oil fuel will be consumed but this includes the fuel which would have been consumed had there been no exercise. As I informed my hon. Friend on 14th April, the only additional expense involved in these exercises is in the cost of the extra fuel, which it is difficult to estimate.