§ 53. Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the decreased employment in the Royal dockyards that must follow the policy of limitation of naval armaments, and the consequent distress involved to the men who have been trained for work in the Royal dockyards and for whom there is no alternative occupation, and in view of the wastage of the taxpayers' capital involved by the progressive disuse of the yards in question, he will take steps to appoint forthwith a Royal Commission which could be instructed to consider and report upon the possibility of utilising the dockyards for commercial shipbuilding?
§ Mr. AMMONI have been asked to reply. No, Sir. I have no reason for anticipating any cessation of the economical use of the principal Royal yards for necessary naval work. The possibilities of employing the Royal yards on commercial work were fully explored by the Colwyn Committee in 1919. The Report is contained in Command Paper 581 of 1920.
§ Mr. MILLSWill the Government consider the possibility, if they cannot utilise them for commercial shipbuilding, of breaking up obsolete ships of war by direct labour in their own dockyards, rather than allow it under sweated conditions to shipbreakers in the Dover area?
§ Major WHELERWhat did the hon. Gentleman mean when he used the words "principal dockyards"?
§ Captain BERKELEYWill the Government recognise that if the policy of limitation of armaments be followed, the consequent distress will be very much greater than that in the dockyards at present?