HC Deb 20 November 1917 vol 99 cc995-9
26. Mr. G. TERRELL

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the area of the land acquired for the purpose of the new national shipyard at Chepstow, the number of slips which will be completed there for new construction, and whether it is intended to construct shops for the manufacture of the engines and equipment?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

It has not been definitely settled what exact area will be acquired for the national shipyard at Chepstow, nor has the number of slips been definitely settled. It is not the intention to construct shops for the manufacture of the engines and equipment. I would remind my hon. Friend that, as I stated on Thursday last, it is intended that the number of slips of the new national shipyards will be from thirty to thirty-six. I have already stated also that an addition of from fifty to sixty slips will be made to existing private yards, and that thirty-three of these have already been sanctioned.

Mr. TERRELL

As it is definitely decided not to construct shops for the manufacture of engines, from what sources does the right hon. Gentleman intend to obtain the necessary engines and equipment for these vessels?

Dr. MACNAMARA

From the existing shops in this country; from the engineering shops as a whole.

Commander WEDGWOOD

Is it intended to obtain the land for building workmen's houses at the same time, or is that to be left to private enterprise?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I explained fully the other day the procedure in regard to that.

Mr. LEIF JONES

Have the Admiralty taken any steps to secure the refusal of such land as they require at a price, or is the uncertainty they have as to the amount of land required enabling the landowners to raise the price?

Dr. MACNAMARA

We shall proceed to occupy under the Defence of the Realm Act Regulations, and if we require to purchase land we shall proceed under the Acquisition of Land Act.

27. Mr. TERRELL

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how the Government propose to run the ships constructed in the new national shipyards; is it proposed that they should be run after the War by the Government in competition with privately-owned ships or are they to be sold to outside owners?

Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEY

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am not aware of any reason for distinguishing between ships built in national shipyards and ships built for the Government in private shipyards, and it, is not proposed to make any such distinction.

Mr. TERRELL

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the question how the Government propose to run these ships after the War? Are they to be run in competition with privately-owned ships?

Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEY

Our present purpose is to run them for war purposes. As to post bellum that raises a very wide question, of which I must ask notice.

Mr. TERRELL

The notice is on the Paper.

Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEY

The hon. Member will find that his question does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

Mr. TERRELL

The specific question is on the Paper.

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Will my hon. Friend answer the part of the question which distinctly asks whether after the War they are to be run as privately-owned vessels or are to be sold?

Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEY

My right hon. Friend will realise that that is a question which demands and is receiving the very serious attention of the Government. It is not possible for me to give it an answer at this moment.

Mr. TERRELL

Then the answer is that he is unable to answer.

Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEY

No, my answer is that post bellum, questions relating to shipping are under consideration, as all other questions relating to reconstruction of industry are under consideration.

Mr. TERRELL

Then he is unable to give an answer.

28. Mr. TERRELL

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty from what source he proposes to obtain the necessary skilled staffs of managers and draftsmen for the new national shipyards?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave last Wednesday to a question by my right hon. Friend the Member for the South Molton Division, wherein I stated that there 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. I may say that no skilled managers or draftsmen will be taken from existing shipyards without the consent of the shipbuilders with whom they may now be employed.

Mr. TERRELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman state how he proposes to obtain the necessary skilled managers and draughtsmen?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Our Shipyard Labour Department is in consultation with the National Service Department, and they are together working with our Deputy-Controller of Shipping.

Mr. TERRELL

Are they skilled managers of ship construction yards?

Mr. WILKIE

What is the reason why they have selected places for these national shipyards where there is no shipyard labour to be got?

Dr. MACNAMARA

There is plenty of shipyard labour.

Mr. TERRELL

Are these gentlemen the right hon. Gentleman has in view really skilled managers of ship construction yards or amateurs?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I can tell the hon. Member who they are. They are the heads of three Departments, the Minister of National Service, Sir Lynden Macassey, Director of Shipyard Labour, Admiralty, and Major-General Collard, Deputy-Controller for Auxiliary Shipping, and they have expert business people at work under them.

Mr. WILKIE

May we be told where there is plenty of shipyard labour to be got?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I certainly hope to get shipyard labour to the localities in question. If there is some there we will get on with the building of a few ships.

30. Mr. DUNDAS WHITE

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty what is approximately the area of the land acquired for the purposes of a national shipyard at Beachley; whether it was acquired under the Defence of the Realm Act or under any other special provisions; when it was acquired; what was the purchase price of it; and what was being taken as its annual value for rating purposes at the time of its acquisition?

Dr. MACNAMARA

It has not been definitely settled what exact area will be acquired for the national shipyard. The land is at present being taken up under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and that part of it which will be required permanently is being purchased under the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act. As the purchase has not yet been completed, the answers to the other parts of the question cannot be given.

Mr. TERRELL

Can the right hon. Gentleman state approximately what land will be required?

Dr. MACNAMARA

No, I cannot. As I said before, if the hon. Member will put a question on the paper I will try to answer it.

Mr. BOLAND

In view of all this criticism of national shipbuilding, will the Tight hon. Gentleman not consider the idea of having one in Ireland where there will be no difficulty at all?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I am glad to hear there will be no difficulty at all. We do not propose to construct national shipbuilding yards in Ireland, but we are availing ourselves increasingly of the facilities which Ireland has for shipbuilding and repairs.

Mr. BYRNE

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean increasing shipbuilding in Ireland or taking advantage of the facilities which Ireland has offered to this country?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Shipbuilding in the North and repairing in the South. We are doing more than we have been to use facilities in Ireland.

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