§ 12. Mr. PRIVETTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the charges made for the use of the floating dry dock at Portsmouth for repairs of mercantile ships are so excessive that orders cannot now be obtained for such repairs at that port; that the demand for the use of the floating dry dock is two and a half times more than is charged at Southampton and Liverpool; and that the charges for labour 472 and materials are three times more than at Southampton and 11 times more than at Liverpool; and whether he will inquire into the question and give instructions that the charges shall be brought into line with those made at other ports in order to make it possible that ship-repair work can be retained at Portsmouth where, owing to dockyard reductions, a large amount of unemployment exists?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe possibility of reducing charges for use of the floating dock at Portsmouth is being considered, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the expenses incurred in docking a ship in a floating dock are usually considerably heavier than in a graving dock and that any reduction of Admiralty charges made with the object of attracting work to a Government dockyard with the consequent loss of work to private firms needs very careful consideration. I cannot at present undertake that any reduction will be made.