§ 3. Mr. G. LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty who is advising his Department in the establishment of new national shipyards; and whether the House can have the estimate of cost prepared for the War Cabinet?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)A large number of practical shipbuilders are at present in the service of the Admiralty and are acting as advisers in carrying out the details of the Cabinet policy of establishing national yards.
§ The names of the principal of these are:
§ Major J. W. Hamilton, chairman of Messrs. W. Hamilton and Company.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel J. Lithgow, senior partner of Messrs. Russell and Company, director of Robert Duncan and Company, and director of Messrs. Napier and Millar.
§ Mr. Noel E. Peck, director of Messrs. Barclay, Curle and Company, Limited, director of Messrs. Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Limited, vice-president of the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation, chairman of the Clyde Shipbuilders' Association.
§ Mr. W. Rowan Thomson, senior partner of Messrs. David Rowan and Company, chairman of North-West Engineers' Association.
§ Major Maurice Denny, partner of Messrs. Denny Brothers, of Dumbarton.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel J. Mitchell Moncrieff, R.E., M.Inst.C.E., an eminent civil engineer, experienced in the construction of shipyards and public works generally.
§ As regards the last part of the question, I am afraid I can do no more than to refer. my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him yesterday to an unstarred question,
§ Vol. 99.
354§ Mr. LEIF JONESMay we take it that any estimate of the cost has been prepared at all?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThey are in course of preparation. If the right hon. Gentleman will look at my reply to an unstarred question he will see what I stated there on the subject. When prepared, they will be submitted to the Treasury.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLCan the right hon. Gentleman give us more detailed information about these shipyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am afraid I can add nothing to what I have said.
§ 4. Mr. G. LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed to increase the number of engineers and fitters in order to man the new national shipyards, or whether skilled men will be withdrawn from present yards or works?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere is no intention of calling upon private yards to provide any labour for the new national shipyards, though we may by agreement secure the services of a limited number of foremen from the private yards, and, indeed, from our own Royal dockyards. Labour for the national shipyards will have to be drawn from sources other than privately owned yards.
§ Mr. LAMBERTMay we take it that labour will not be diverted to these national shipyards until the present shipyards are fully utilised?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThat is so except that we may get a few foremen by agreement.
§ Mr. WATTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether these shipyards will be spread fairly over the various Kingdoms, and that each will have its share?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThey will be placed in the localities best suited to serve the interests of the country.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLAre these yards to be permanent shipbuilding yards or merely temporary yards to meet the present emergency
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThey will be to some extent, at any rate, permanent national shipyards, though whether on the scale to which they may develop for war. purposes I cannot say.
§ Mr. TERRELLMaintained and controlled by the State?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly.
§ 8. Commander WEDGWOODasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the new national dockyards, if he will say what arrangements have been made as to acquiring land both for dockyards and housing and as to recovering the betterment in land values likely to arise in adjoining areas?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIn the one case in which matters have proceeded so far as to raise the questions to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, all the land which has been and may be required for the new national shipyard will be taken possession of under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Such part of that land and of any adjoining land as is required for the permanent purposes of the shipyard will be purchased under the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act. As regards housing, my hon. and gallant Friend knows the obligations under which we are placed in the matter of providing temporary accommodation under Standing Order of the House of Commons No. 184A. As regards permanent housing, here, as elsewhere, we shall certainly make ourselves responsible for seeing that in any national institution under our direction sufficient housing accommodation is provided.
§ Mr. TERRELLCan the right hon Gentleman say where this particular land that has been acquired is situated?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOh, yes, at Beasley.
Mr. CHANCELLORWill the right hon. Gentleman deal with the last part of the question as to recovering the betterment in land values likely to arise in adjoining areas?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe are proceeding under the Defence of the Realm Regulations and the Acquisition of Land Act. As to whether under these Statutes we can acquire land for the purpose of securing betterment in connection with these operations, I do not feel myself called upon to give an interpretation: that is a matter for the Law Officers.
§ Mr. RAFFANIn view of the great importance of this question, is not the Government looking further ahead than the application of the Defence of the 356 Realm Act, and is the cost of borrowing in the surrounding areas to be higher owing to the increased land values going into the pockets of private, owners?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf my hon. Friend will look at the Acquisition of Land Act, I think he will find that his question is partly answered.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am afraid I cannot say that.
§ Mr. TERRELLWhat is the area that has been acquired, and the number of ships that the dockyards are capable of turning out?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI do not know whether I can answer that. But the hon. Gentleman might put a question down. I cannot state it now, because I do not know it.