§ 19. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a published statement to the effect that there is still in Liverpool a War Vessels Production Department, and also a Department for the purpose of transporting American troops, both still maintaining offices and staffs at considerable expense; and will he make a statement on the subject?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (Colonel Leslie Wilson)I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the War Vessels Production Department, I beg to refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to the hon Member for Macclesfield on the 21st October. There is no Department at Liverpool established for the purpose of transporting American troops. It is presumed that the published statement referred to the Naval Transport Office at Liverpool, which is located at 30, Canning Place, and which moved from Cunard Buildings on the 31st August, 1920. This office is part of the, pre-War Admiralty establishment which, of course, was greatly expanded during the War. The staff at the Naval Transport Office at present consists of one retired officer, R.N., who acts as principal naval transport officer, one store officer, one transport writer, three civilian writers, two typists, and one orderly. This staff is at present principally employed in dealing with the large amount of transport stores at Liverpool, now being disposed of, also in dealing with outstanding claims referred for investigation. When these duties have been completed the staff can be reduced to its pre-War complement, namely, one naval transport officer and writer-messenger, whose duties in peace time are connected with the oversea conveyance of naval and military personnel.