§ 59. Commander Viscount CURZONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he can state how many concrete ships are now under construction and how many have been passed into service; if the construction of any further ships of this type is contemplated; and can he state what results have so far been realised as to the success or otherwise of this type of ship?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Colonel Leslie Wilson)The number of concrete barges launched to date is 22. Of these, 9 have been completed and 5 actually delivered. In addition, there are at present 22 barges under construction. There are also six concrete tugs under construction of which the first was launched on the 15th instant. It is not the present intention of the Government to build any more concrete vessels, as they are not required for Government use, but there is nothing to prevent contracts being placed for private account. There has scarcely been sufficient experience yet of these craft to justify a definite opinion as to their success.
§ Viscount CURZONCan the hon. Gentleman say whether any of those ships have proved failures?
§ Colonel WILSONThere is a question on the Paper for to-morrow with regard to two of them, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply.