HC Deb 23 February 1920 vol 125 cc1288-90
36. Sir EVAN JONES

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed on the 17th instant at a joint meeting held at Pembroke Dock of the Pembroke Town Council, representatives of the Pembroke Dock Chamber of Trade, the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades, and of the hired dockyard workmen, to the effect that every effort should be made to retain Pembroke Dockyard as a naval establishment of pre-war strength, say 1914, with the building of oil tankers and merchant ships as necessary to augment the naval work that might be allotted to the yard, and to a resolution passed at a mass meeting of established men held at Pembroke Dock on the 11th instant to the same effect; and whether, in view of this general agreement on the part of the representatives of the public, the trading interests, and the workmen, and in view of the specific recommendations of the Colwyn Committee in regard to Pembroke Dockyard, he will give an assurance that effect shall be given to these important recommendations?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

I have been asked to answer this question. My attention has been called to the meetings in question, the views of which were generally as stated. These representations will receive due consideration In the meantime, the Admiralty are considering carefully the proposal to lease Pembroke Dockyard for a period of years, in response to an offer made by a, private firm of shipbuilders. The Admiralty are also pursuing the recommendation of the Colwyn Committee that it should seek to obtain merchant ship construction in order to give employment, for the time being, to those of its present employes not now required for Naval needs. But I should add that the Colwyn Committee recommendation merely contemplated this course as a temporary expedient, and not as a permanent part of the Royal Dockyards' activities.

Sir E. JONES

Have any orders been offered to the Admiralty for the construction of merchant ships at Pembroke Dockyard?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Not, I think, at Pembroke Dockyard. We have received a few, very few, orders, and they have received careful consideration.

Mr. SEDDON

Have any of them been accepted?

Dr. MACNAMARA

One, a collier from Devonport, was refused. Two merchant ships were offered to be built at Portsmouth. It was impossible to complete them there, but it is a matter for consideration whether trawlers might not be built in some of the yards.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

In what yards?

Dr. MACNAMARA

If it should be Devonport I will give my hon. Friend early information.