§ Captain Kerbyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) in view of the fact that France and Italy will shortly be in possession of cruisers armed with guided missiles, whilst our Tiger class cruisers, laid down in 1941–42 and due to be completed in 1959–60, will not be so fitted, and that no provision has been made in their design for similar types of guided missiles, if he will take steps to construct vessels which are capable of being armed with guided missiles;
(2) in view of the shortage of antisubmarine craft available for the defence of our ocean lifelines, as revealed in 1957 by Admiral Eccles, what active measures are being taken to remedy this deficiency.
§ Mr. AllanI would ask my hon. Friend to await the First Lord's Explanatory Statement on the Navy Estimates, 1958–59, which will be published very shortly.