HC Deb 18 November 1919 vol 121 cc348-9
16. Sir HENRY COWAN

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the action of the naval authorities in discontinuing the reconditioning of drifters at the ports of Peterhead and Fraserburgh; whether vessels owned at these and other Scottish ports are being sent to English dockyards for reconditioning; whether he is aware that additional expense is incurred by this procedure, coal unnecessarily consumed, and large numbers of Scotsmen who have served their country during the War thrown out of employment; and, having regard to these circumstances, what steps, he proposes to take in the matter?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Yes, Sir. Vessels owned at the two ports mentioned and other Scottish ports have been sent to the Royal dockyards in the South for reconditioning. I am assured that the cost involved in this transfer is counterbalanced by the saving in hire that would be incurred by the delayed reconditioning at the Scottish ports referred to, and by the saving in connection, with the maintenance of a staff of naval and technical officers at these ports if the reconditioning work were undertaken there. As regards the unemployment of Scotsmen referred to, I am advised that the ordinary work on vessels of the fishing fleet, as in pre-war days, together with the additional work of reconditioning where owners of fishing craft have accepted lump sum settlements, should help to employ the firms in each of the ports mentioned.

Sir H. COWAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this new-born zeal for economy now pervades all Departments of the Admiralty or is confined to questions connected with Scotland?

Dr. MACNAMARA

This particular question is not altogether a matter of economy. It is distributing the work as well as we can according to the necessities of the case.

Sir H. COWAN

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it worth while to throw men out of employment in Scotland in order to provide employment in England?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply, and, in any case, I observe that Fraserburgh has twelve drifters and Peterhead one drifter reconditioning now.