§ 30. Mr. THOMAS HENDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he can inform the House whether the oil-carrying vessels supplying oil to His Majesty's Fleet are owned by the Admiralty; and, if the vessels are not owned by the Government, will he be prepared to advise His Majesty's Government to lay down oil-carrying vessels in the shipyards of the country, thereby assisting to reduce unemployment in the shipbuilding industry?
§ Mr. AMMONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and the second does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. HENDERSONIf the policy of the Government is to provide work for the unemployed, does he not think that the shipyards of the country could build oil-carrying vessels and not ships of war, and will he consider the advisability of putting down oil-carrying vessels?
§ Mr. AMMONWhile probably agreeing with my hon. Friend, we do not want any more, and therefore there is no reason for laying them down.
Captain BENNDo the Government accept the principle that unemployment is a reason for an increase of armaments?