§ 13 and 14. Mr. TAYLORasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) if he is aware that His Majesty's battle cruiser "Hood," and the other battleships being built and repaired by Messrs. John Brown and Company, Clydebank, are wrongly described in the Navy Estimates as being built and repaired at Glasgow; and will he give instructions that, in any future references to vessels built by this firm, Clydebank and not Glasgow will get the credit of building them;
(2) if he is aware that His Majesty's Ship "Raleigh," and other battleships being built and repaired by Messrs. William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir, are wrongly described in the Navy Estimates as being built and repaired at Glasgow; and will he give instructions that, in any future reference to vessels built by this firm, Dalmuir and not Glasgow will get the credit of building them?
§ Mr. LONGIt is no innovation to describe the work on these vessels as being carried out at Glasgow, but if my hon. Friend lays particular stress on the exact section of the Clyde being mentioned, I will give the matter full consideration when the next Estimates are being prepared.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the name of Clydebank is world-famed for the ships she has built, both naval and mercantile, and is it not a natural thing to ask that the name of the town in which the ships are built should be placed on the Government record so that future generations of people may know?
§ Sir F. FLANNERYMay I ask if it is not well understood throughout the shipbuilding trade that Glasgow as a port includes the whole of the Clyde as far down as Greenock?
§ Mr. LONGI have already told my hon. Friend that I will take care this suggestion is considered. Certainly there is no intention to be guilty of any discourtesy to any portion of the Clyde or of Glasgow, but I think he will agree that Glasgow has invariably been used 379 as descriptive of that greet area where for many years such splendid work has been done for the Board of Admiralty. If he desires that various parts of the Glasgow area should be specifically designated, and especially Clydebank, I will consider the matter.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Clydebank is not in Glasgow—that is the point? It is not the case that the Clyde right down to Greenock is described as Glasgow, because in the Naval Estimates Dumbarton is credited with ships built there?
§ Mr. LONGI do not think my hon. Friend should press me any further. I can assure him we will do our utmost to pay full respect to local patriotism in the future.