§ 82. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is now in a position to give any estimate of the cost of the national shipyard at Chepstow?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)Sketch estimates of the cost of the new national shipyards have been prepared and are now under consideration. As I stated to my right hon. Friend the Member for the South Molton Division, on the 13th instant, these estimates will be passed to the Treasury without delay.
§ Mr. TERRELLWill the right hon. Gentleman allow copies of that to be circulated among the Members of this House?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThat will have to be considered.
§ Mr. TERRELLThat is the question:
§ 83. Mr. TERRELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of slipways for new construction which the existing shipbuilding firms have offered to build if granted facilities by the Government for the purpose; and to what extent their offer has been accepted?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAApplications from various shipbuilding firms throughout the country have been received for the grant of facilities in respect of the construction of seventy-four new slipways. Construc- 2225 tion of forty additional slipways and the lengthening of three existing slipways has already been sanctioned. Remaining cases are still under consideration and it is expected that a decision will be arrived at shortly.
§ Mr. HOUSTONAre the existing slip-ways all fully occupied?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI could not say without notice.
§ 84. Mr. TERRELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Shipbuilding Advisory Committee, consisting of Sir George Carter, Messrs. W. F. Abel, F. Henderson, J. Marr, A. C. Ross, W. Rowan Thompson, and C. J. O. Sanders, have resigned; and if he can give the reasons for their resignation?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the question addressed by the Member for Maidstone to the Prime Minister on the 26th, in which it was stated that nothing could be usefully added to the notice which was issued to the Press on the 23rd, announcing the formation of a Shipbuilding Council. This notice stated that all the gentlemen who served on the Shipbuilding Advisory Committee, and have not since joined the staff of the Controller's Department, have already consented to serve on the Council.
§ Mr. TERRELLWill the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question which asks the reasons for the resignation of this Advisory Committee?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should have thought the fact that they have consented to place their services at the disposal of the Council would have been a sufficient answer. But I dare say that in the great expedition under which the Controller and the Deputy-Controller of Auxiliary Shipping had to move forward in getting new tonnage there were not all those consultations which would otherwise have been held. That might very well be the case. The whole incident is happily closed now by the fact that these gentlemen have agreed to place their services at our disposal as members of .the Council, under the chairmanship of the Controller.
§ Mr. TERRELLIs it not a fact that this Advisory Committee is in entire disagreement with the policy of the Government in regard to these shipyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say that. I have said it might not have been consulted, but that was due to the extraordinary expedition with which we had to move in this matter.
§ Mr. HOUSTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say what practical experience the Controller of Auxiliary Shipping has, or ever had?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of this question.