§ 19. Sir WILFRID SUGDENasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will send inquiries for cost of building to shipyards in the Hartlepools and the East Coast, in view of the proved fact that in the past private yards can do this work cheaper than and as well as Government dockyards; seeing that certain private yards elsewhere have been found lately to have fixed foreign materials in battleships, will he see that these yards be not invited to tender until the shipyards on the East Coast have been offered some work; and is he aware that the unemployment on the North-East Coast of shipyard workers is the highest in the country, namely, 45 per cent., whereas in Scotland it is 35 per cent., and in the West of England 30 per cent.?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to his question of 17th June last (OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th June, Column 479–80). The Admiralty cannot undertake to restrict invitations to tender to any particular district.
§ Sir W. SUGDENNot even when in other districts they have not followed the terms of the contract as to British material?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, I think everyone will agree in a case of that kind the terms are the same to everyone.
§ Sir W. SUGDENWhen they have not followed the contract terms for British material should they not be penalised for their wrongdoing?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI do not think a statement like that ought to be made unless they are prepared to give the names.