HC Deb 12 November 1929 vol 231 cc1698-9
13. Mr. WHEATLEY

asked the Lord Privy Seal with what firm or firms have the orders for the 13,000 tons of steel sleepers been placed; whether the contracts for the five 7,000-ton ships mentioned by him have now been fixed; and, if so, with what firms?

Mr. THOMAS

As regards the first part of the question, I can only say that the contracts have been placed with British firms. As regards the second part, I am not in a position to add any thing to the statement I made on the 4th of this month.

Mr. WHEATLEY

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any report from those firms showing the number of men employed by them before the contracts were placed and the number employed by them now? Will he give that information to the House, so that we may judge of the value to the unemployed of the placing of these contracts?

Mr. THOMAS

No, I have not the least idea, nor is it my business to ask it. But what I am concerned to know—and I hope the House will be concerned, as I am sure the country will be—is this, that if I succeed in persuading railway companies to substitute for sleepers of foreign imported wood British steel sleepers, the result will be favourable.

Mr. WHEATLEY

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that, in return for the assistance which it is giving to these firms, this House is entitled to know how many workers have been added to the number of their employés?

Mr. THOMAS

The House is certainly entitled to know that, and any question about that will be answered. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not answer it?"] My right hon. Friend and the interrupters from the other side ought to know that these sleepers are ordered and paid for by the railway companies themselves, and that the orders have nothing at all to do with Government assistance.

Mr. WHEATLEY

Would the right hon. Gentleman care to inform the House why we should give assistance to railway companies if they are not in a position to state that as a result of that assistance they employ additional men?

Mr. THOMAS

The House is entitled to know that, but the House is also entitled to ask that hon. and right hon. Gentlemen should keep to the facts. The sleepers referred to in this question have nothing to do either with the railway companies' application to the Government or any Government assistance.

Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE

With reference to the second part of the question, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the shipyards on the Tyne are in a particular way suited for carrying out that work?

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not think that that question arises.