§ 10. Mr. GEORGE LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can now give the assurance that all the shipyards are fully equipped with an adequate amount of skilled and unskilled labour and material for the outturn of a maximum output of merchant ships; and, if not, what number of men and what amount of material is lacking?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)With regard to the first part of the question, I can assure my right hon. Friend 748 that all the shipyards are at the moment provided with all the unskilled labour which can be utilised under present conditions, and with all the material required to obtain the best possible output. There is a shortage of skilled labour in certain trades and in certain districts, but this matter has received and is receiving constant attention in order to relieve this shortage as far as possible.
The Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding estimates that fully to man the maximum capacity of the existing yards and the extensions thereto, when complete, we should require to increase the number of men by between 70,000 and 80,000.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWhat steps are the Government making to give effect to this increase?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThey could not be all occupied at once. Months may elapse. With the earlier supply I have said we are taking steps. For the rest, the Controller of Merchant Shipping has direct access to the War Cabinet. My right hon. Friend knows the claims of man-power are very insistent.
§ Mr. LAMBERTHow many skilled men have been returned from the Army to the shipyards in the first two months?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have a statement showing the returns this year to 18th October: Skilled or semi-skilled, 11,800 odd.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say, but it is interesting to know that in the period, and including the unskilled, whom I have not given, the number of men who have been found unsuitable is only 239.