72. Mr. J. JONESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the suspension of work on His Majesty's ships "Yeoman," "Zealous," "Zebra," and "Zodiac," and other vessels has caused considerable unrest and unemployment amongst the workers in the Clyde district; and, in view of the position created, would he be prepared to advise the Board of Admiralty to reconsider the question of the stoppage of work on these and other vessels?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)After very careful consideration, the Admiralty decided, having regard to the needs of the Navy as far as they can be estimated at the present time, to cancel certain ships under construction, including those referred to by my hon. Friend. This policy has been communicated to the shipbuilders concerned, and they have been requested to stop all work, on the ships specified to them, at the earliest possible date, avoiding, as far as possible, any sudden dislocation of labour. They have been asked to report a suitable date within the next few weeks for each of the vessels in question on which the work of construction will cease.
§ Mr. IRVINGWhat happens to these ships which are stopped in a half-completed condition?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf my hon. Friend will refresh his memory, he will see that in the statement made by the First Lord of the Admiralty in introducing the Estimates the ground is covered more than I can cover it by way of question and answer. We shall have to consider what steps can be taken to prevent the expenditure already incurred being rendered nugatory to the State; but it is obvious that we cannot go on building ships that we shall not want.
§ Mr. BILLINGWould it not be better to keep these men on short time working for their money rather than have them on the unemployment fund loafing the streets?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. Friend may be quite sure that those concerned, the shipbuilders on the one hand and ourselves on the other, are watching that matter very carefully.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs it not a fact that we have already been told that there are thousands of men out of work? Yet the right hon. Gentleman now proposes to put more men out of work rather than complete ships that we do not want.
Mr. J. TAYLOR (Dumbarton)Is it the intention to hold up these ships indefinitely, and thereby prevent these berths being utilised for the building of merchant ships?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not only a question of labour, but also of material, and here the material would be put to a better use by building merchant ships.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAmade a reply which was inaudible in the Press Gallery.
Mr. J. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a number of men on merchant shipbuilding also being stopped in the various ports?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo; I am not aware of that, but I shall be very glad to have the facts, and, if necessary, to make inquiries.