asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are to be taken regarding the capital ships that are to become redundant under the provisions of the London Naval Treaty; and whether, if the breaking up of these ships is decided upon, some of the work involved can be given to His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport?

I would refer the hon. Member to the detailed provisions of Part I, Article 2 (1) of the Treaty (Command Paper 3556). As the Treaty does not come into force until ratifications have been deposited on behalf of the United States of America and Japan, as well as on behalf of His Majesty the King, and as the ships to be scrapped do not have to be finally disposed of until either 24 or 30 months from that date, I am not yet in a position to say what detailed steps will be taken nor where the ships will be broken up.