§ MR. RENWICK (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the present serious depression in the shipbuilding and marine engineering industries, and the consequent large number of men unemployed, he will arrange that the necessary repairs to war vessels and their machinery during the coming winter will be divided between the Government dockyards and private shipbuilding and engineering establishments.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.No, Sir.
§ MR. RENWICKasked why firms which were entrusted with shipbuilding and the provision of machinery were not entrusted with repairs.
§ MR. MCKENNAsaid that the Admiralty policy had been to give repairs chiefly, if not entirely, to the dockyards in order to give the building out to private yards.
§ MR. JENKINS (Chatham)In the event of the Admiralty acceding to the request of the hon. Member opposite, will he give new work to the dockyards?
§ MR. MCKENNAThe Admiralty have not the faintest intention of acceding to the request of the hon. Gentleman.