§ 4. Mr. GEORGE LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the fact that the losses by marine risk and hostile action of merchant shipping largely exceeds the tonnage built for the first four months of 1918, he can give the assurance that every private shipbuilding yard is supplied with as much labour as can be profitably utilised in the replacing and repair of tonnage?
§ The CIVIL LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Pretyman)I cannot yet answer this question definitely in the affirmative, but the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding (Lord Pirrie) is satisfied that all practicable steps are being taken to utilise existing facilities in private shipbuilding yards to the utmost. My right hon. Friend is, of course, aware that considerable extensions of those facilities are now in course of progress, and for the proper utilisation of these further labour will be necessary.