§ 24. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary to the Admiralty why his Department are arranging through the Lands Directorate of the War Office to make the arrangements for the occupation and purchase of areas required for the national shipyards, in view of the fact that the Land Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue has up till now always done this work for the Admiralty with entire satisfaction and without cost, whereas the Lands Directorate of the War Office invariably engages outside valuators at considerable fees to do this work; and is this change made in the interest of war-time economy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAArrangements for the occupation and purchase of lands and buildings required by the Admiralty are made through the Lands Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue, but as the arrangements for purchasing the sites of the national shipyards were inaugurated by the staff of the Inland Water Transport Department of the War Office, the Lands Branch of that Department undertook the negotiations, and it has not been thought desirable to interfere with this arrangement.
29. Sir F. HALLasked what is the extent of the reduction in output of the men. concerned at the shipbuilding yard on the Clyde where the carpenters employed on a troop-leave ship and other vessels struck work early in the year against continuing the system of piece-work that had been in operation for many years, and only resumed their duties, at the instance of the Admiralty, on condition that time-work should be substituted for piece-work?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAInquiries have been made, and the firm state that certain alterations made in the working of the shop have made it impossible for them at the moment to form any definite opinion as to the relative output since the change to time work has been in operation. But they hope to be in a position to furnish the information later.
Sir F. HALLI will repeat the question in a fortnight, when, perhaps, the right hon. Gentleman will have the information.