§ 62. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Prime Minister whether he can state whowas responsible for initiating the policy of the national shipyards at Chepstow; whether further expense is being incurred there and why were those yards transferred to the charge of the Minister of Shipping?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe principle of establishing national shipyards was ap- 2231 proved by the War Cabinet in 1917 on the recommendation of the then First Lord of the Admiralty. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I can add nothing to the answers already given on this subject by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping on the 25th and 26th of February last, and to the very full statement made on behalf of the Government in Debate by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping on the 14th of November last.
§ Mr. LAMBERTCould the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any truth in the rumour published, I think, in the "Times" this morning, that these national shipyards had been transferred to the Office of Works?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, Sir.