HC Deb 02 June 1913 vol 53 cc563-4
15. Mr. GOLDSTONE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the names of the firms which provide ships, guns, and gun-mountings for the Royal Navy; whether any, and, if so, which of these firms arc also interested as shareholders in foreign establishments for the equipment of foreign fleets; and whether such establishments in which British shareholders have substantial holdings would be able to supply foreign navies with equipment in the event of this country being involved in hostilities with such navies?

Mr. CHURCHILL

It is contrary to the practice of the Admiralty to make known the names of firms on its contractors' lists. There is no precise official information available, at any rate in the Admiralty, as to the second and third parts two and three of the question.

Mr. GOLDSTONE

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to inquire, and give the House the information asked for in parts two and three of the question?

Mr. KING

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the decision not to make known the names of these firms?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The practice has been arrived at as the result of many years' Parliamentary supervision, and the reasons have on many occasions been given to the House. I shall be very glad to discuss this on a suitable occasion. So far as the second and third parts of the question are concerned, it is really going outside the regular work of the Admiralty, and is work for which we have not any special facilities to inquire into the dealings of particular firms, or the relations between the shareholders and the various companies.

Mr. KING

In view of the revelations in this connection, both at home and abroad, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the whole question of the position of these firms?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I am not aware, so far as this country is concerned, of any revelations of a startling character; and I have not had put before me any accounts which would lead the Admiralty to embark on a new or a different policy in regard to the various contracting firms with which the Admiralty are dealing at the present time.