§ 60. Mr. DONALDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Con- 1621 troiler if he will state the number of ship building berths completed at the Beachley and Chepstow national shipyards; the number of berths partly completed; the number of keels laid down at present; how much material and plant is at present in these yards that could be used for ship construction; is material still coming in; how many cantilever cranes are erected complete; how many are in course of erection; how many workmen's dwelling-houses are erected complete; how many are in course of erection; how many officials and workmen are at present employed in these yards; what are they employed at at present; what is the total cost of these yards up to the present time; and what is the future policy of the Government with regard to these shipyards?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY I to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Colonel I Wilson)There are two berths completed with launching ways and two berths completed without launching ways at Beach-leyy, and four berths completed at Chep-stow. Two berths are partly completed at Beachley, and two partly completed at Chepstow. Four keels are laid down at Chepstow, and three in Finch's yard. There is sufficient material and plant to euip Chepstow and Beachley, as self-contained yards. Ship's material is still coining in, and a small amount of shipyard machinery. Eight cantilever cranes are completed, and five are partly erected. Two hundred and nine cottages are completed, and two hundred and fifty-three are in course of erection. There are 1,328, including administrative and industrial staff, employed on shipbuilding, and 1,985, including administrative and industrial staff, employed on house construction, clearing site, and stacking materials ready for disposal, and also on maintenance. The expenditure on the construction of the yards, including the property of the Standard Shipbuilding Company, housing, plant, machinery, stores, etc., is approximately £5,000,000. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my previous statements on this subject.