§ 82. Mr. RENWICKasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended that steam trawlers and similar vessels which are now being refitted and reconditioned in the Mersey and other ship-repairing centres shall in future be sent to the Government dockyards for the necessary work to be done; if so, has any estimate been made as to the relative cost of the work in private yards and Government yards; if such estimate has been made, will the work be sent to the yards where it can be clone cheapest and in the least possible time; and, where costs and time are equal, will preference be given to the district in which the owners of the vessels prefer the work to be done?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe number of cases of vessels for refit and reconditioning not yet taken in hand are, I understand, very few, and will probably be sent to the Royal Dockyards. But any such vessels actually in hand in the Mersey or elsewhere will not be transferred to the Dockyards. Comparative estimates of cost are, I am advised, not possible to obtain, as the work to be done varies in each case. The owners wishes as regards the district in which this work is to be done are met as far as possible, but we have to keep in mind other factors, such as the facilities available and the necessity for returning the vessels to their owners as speedily as possible.