§ 2. Mr. KINGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, before new quarters for married men are erected at A.N.S. 3, Portbury, the existing buildings will be improved; whether blankets will be 1015 cleaned and renewed, having been in use since February; whether the huts will be made to exclude driving rain; and whether proper bath accommodation will be provided, as well as drainage to replace the bucket-and-ditch system now in use?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The existing quarters at the Portbury National Shipyard have not yet been completed. The erection of these huts was expedited as much as possible in order to avoid putting the men under canvas, and for this reason the plastering of the exterior of the huts was postponed. This is now in hand and will be completed before the end of the summer. As regards the second part of the question, a cleanser and disinfector has been installed in the camp, and all blankets are being cleaned and renewed regularly. Additional baths will shortly be completed, and will give bathing facilities far in advance of the number of men now quartered at Portbury The latrines provided are the same as those to be found in the majority of military camps throughout the country, but a drainage scheme for the whole camp is well in hand and, it is anticipated, will be completed within a month or six weeks.
§ 6. Sir CHARLES HENRYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the date when Mr. Charles Payne was appointed as Director of Shipbuilding at the national shipbuilding yards; whether this gentleman is at present at those yards; if not, when it is intended that he shall take up his work there; whether his entire time will be devoted to the shipbuilding at the yards; and what is his remuneration?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMr. Charles Payne was appointed Director of Shipbuilding for the National Shipyards on the 3rd July, assuming duty on the same day, and is at present engaged in making the necessary arrangements in the locality in readiness for the time when actual ship construction shall commence. His whole time will be given to his duties in the national yards, and he will be concerned with all matters pertaining to the construction of ships. As regards remuneration, he will receive no salary from the Government, but will receive the usual travelling and subsistence allowances which are drawn by other persons who are serving the Government in an honorary capacity.
§ Sir C. HENRYDoes not my right hon. Friend consider it premature to employ this gentleman's valuable services when the yards are not constructing?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo; we cannot have a more expert authority, and he is well employed in getting ready for the time when shipbuilding will commence.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAHe is managing director of Harland and Wolff, of Belfast.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow are Harland and Wolff to get on without a managing director?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThat is a question for them.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it intended that Harland and Wolff are to take over the national shipyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo; but we are very glad to get this gentleman's services.
§ 7. Sir C. HENRYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of the drawing staff and technical staff from Messrs. Harland and Wolff that have been brought, or which it is intended to bring, to the national shipbuilding yards; what is the estimate of the remuneration of this staff; and whether they give their whole services to the national shipbuilding yards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo drawing office staff has so far been brought to the national shipyards from Messrs. Harland and Wolff, nor is it intended to transfer any such staff. It is, however, proposed that two technical assistants shall be lent to the national yards by this firm, together with a few clerical assistants who have complete knowledge of shipbuilding methods. As in the case of Mr. Payne, it is not intended that they shall receive any payment from the Government with the exception of the usual travelling and subsistence allowances. The drawing office work in the preparation of plans for the "N" ships is being carried out at Messrs. Harland and Wolff's, Belfast, as they are the leading builders of this type of ship, which is to be constructed in the national yards. This work for the "N" ship is being undertaken by Messrs. Harland and Wolff in the same way that other shipbuilding firms in the country have prepared plans for other types of ships, and will, of course, be paid at the usual rate.
§ Mr. ROCHIn the circumstances is it not better to hand these yards outright to Harland and Wolff, seeing that they cannot be run without their staff?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo. They are national shipyards, and it is not intended to hand them over to a private firm.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not the fact that these officials of the national shipyards are salaried servants of Harland and Wolff, so that they will be under the management of Harland and Wolff. Would it not be better to have an honest transaction?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere are the managing director, two technical assistants, and the clerical assistants. The drawing staff continue to work for Harland and Wolff.
§ Mr. ROCHAre there any other persons employed in any managing capacity except from Harland and Wolff?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACertainly. There are certain Admiralty officials and the Royal Engineers.
§ Sir C. HENRYHave any other shipbuilding firms been invited to offer their services in connection with these national shipyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot answer without notice, but I would point out that this type of fabricated ship is a ship which Harland and Wolff are particularly well qualified to build.
§ Mr. G. LAMBERTIs it not a fact that Lord Pirrie is endeavouring to bring some sort of success to this rather disastrous national experiment?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAssuming that is so, I do not know there is any objection to be taken to that.
§ 8. Mr. KINGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, after months of excavations for the sites of two slipways at the Portbury national shipyard, several thousand tons of stone were laid for foundations; and whether these sites were then filled in again because in the hurry and alteration of plan the work which took months to achieve was found to be useless or had to be abandoned?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have caused careful inquiries to be made, and can find no foundation whatever for the suggestions— 1018
I think I am entitled to ask the hon. Member to give me the ground upon which these suggestions are made.
- (1) That after months of excavations for the sites of two slipways at the Portbury national shipyard several thousand tons of stone were laid for foundations;
- (2) That these sites were then filled in again because in the hurry and alteration of plan the work which took months to achieve was found to be useless or had to be abandoned.
§ Sir R. COOPERIs it not a fact that the first scheme for Portbury has been abandoned and a great deal of loss of money caused thereby?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not aware of that.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Portbury yard is in my Constituency, and that I get a great many complaints with which I do not trouble him?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI believe it is in North Somerset, but that does not necessarily make the allegations true.
§ Mr. MALCOLMWill the right hon. Gentleman decline to answer questions which give the names of the national shipyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThey have been very generally stated for a long time.
§ Mr. PRINGLEThey have been announced by the Admiralty themselves.