asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has had any recent official communication with the United States on the question of the cruiser programme; and whether there is any immediate prospect of reopening negotiations for the purpose of arriving at a mutual agreement for the further limitation of naval construction?

The latest communication from the United States Government was their Note of the 28th September last. The latter part of the question was fully dealt with in the answers I gave to questions put by the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Rennie Smith) and the hon. and gallant Member for Hull, Central (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 23rd and 28th of January respectively.

Am I to understand that the policy of the Government is to do nothing, and that the question is being allowed to drift?

No. If the hon. Member had heard the answers to which I have referred, he could not be under that misapprehension.

Are we still to understand that an answer is eventually to be sent to the Note of September last?

I think that an answer was actually promised to the United States Government, but in any case the matter will not be left where it is.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate calling any conference to deal with the related question of maritime law, which is the principal obstacle in the way of an agreement on cruiser construction?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the growing tendency among naval powers to embark on larger building programmes, His Majesty's Government will consider making some bold pronouncement on those aspects of sea policy which are the root cause of suspicion, together with a new offer of disarmament?

The problem of the limitation of armaments in all its aspects is receiving the close consideration of His Majesty's Government, and I am not in a position to make any statement.

Is the question of the freedom of the seas also being included in this consideration?

I have already stated in a different connection that all these matters connected with naval limitation are receiving the consideration of His Majesty's Government.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate making some new statement on this matter before the Conference at Geneva in April?

I am afraid that the most I can say is that I do not want to make a statement until I have a statement to make, and I do not know when that will be.