§ 28. Mr. FORESTIER-WALKERasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the reports that have appeared in the newspapers to the effect that the repairs on the steamship "Macedonia" were too extensive for Newport; whether the delays were due to the inability of the authorities to obtain certain fittings, alterations of plans over which Newport has no control, and labour disputes which were common to all ports; and whether he is aware that the ship-repairing firm in question has repaired7,000 ships of 20,000,000 tons during the war period, and, further than that, repaired 1,000 ships of 3,000,000 tons during the time the "Macedonia" has been in Newport?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, Sir, my attention has been called to the reports alluded to by my hon. Friend, and, as I have already stated in replies which I have already sent him, the repairs were not considered too extensive for the facilities of the port in question. It is also true that the delays in completion are partially due to the inability to obtain certain fittings, to alterations of plans over which the firm had no control, and also to a number of labour disputes which have taken place recently. As regards the last part of the question, dealing with the repair work done by this firm during the war period, it is quite true the firm have done a very great deal indeed, but not quite as much, I think, as suggested in the question.