§ 20. Viscount CURZONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the total number of the staff now employed at Pembroke dockyard; what is the monthly cost of the dockyard; what work is now being carried out there; and whether this yard is indispensable for naval purposes?
§ Mr. AMERYAs the reply is somewhat long, I will, with my noble and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the reply:
§ The total numbers employed at Pembroke dockyard, including naval officers, civilian salaried staff and wages staff, are 1,969.
§ The monthly expenditure on salaries and wages is approximately £29,500.
§ The total average monthly expenditure on the dockyard cannot be stated without further investigation.
§ The work now being carried out is as follows:
- Oiler "Oleander," under construction.
- T.B.D. "Wren," completing construction.
- "President," fitting out as R.N.V.R. drill ship.
- R.F.A. "Burma," annual refit and docking.
§ There is also work incidental to the maintenance of the dockyard and local yard craft.
§ With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my Noble and gallant Friend to the Memorandum explanatory of the Navy Estimates for 1922–23, which was submitted to Parliament by the First Lord of the Admiralty on 10th March last, and which (on page 11) gives a full explanation of the considerations which led the Government to come to its present decision.