§ 22. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the nature of the work hitherto done by contract which is now being done in the Royal Dockyards; whether this refers solely to orders given during the lifetime of the present Government; what is the cost of the work involved; and in which of His Majesty's dockyards this work is being carried out?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe following work formerly carried out by contract is now being done by the Royal dockyards:—
2016 This system was introduced during the lifetime of the late Government, and the policy is now being continued on similar lines and developed as far as is practicable.
- Building caisson, pulling and sailing boats, balsa rafts and lifefloats.
- Making gunnery and torpedo fittings and stores and various small metal articles for store.
The approximate total annual cost of this work is £63,000 (labour £38,000, material £25,000).
The work is being carried out at each of the home dockyards (Chatham, Devon-port, Portsmouth and Sheerness).
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the right hon. Gentleman of opinion that this work might be usefully extended, and will he use every endeavour to extend it?
Mr. ALEXANDERWe are giving every possible attention to the development of such work, but I would remind the hon. Member that it is a question of practicability.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea of the comparative cost of articles made in the dockyards by the present system and of the normal practice?
Mr. ALEXANDERI should like notice of that question, but I have no reason to believe that dockyard production is uneconomical.
26. Mr. ALLENasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in providing alternative employment for workers who may be displaced by the anticipated reduction in naval armaments, he will adopt the principle that any alternative work undertaken by Admiralty dockyards shall not be of such a character as to cause unemployment among workmen in the private dockyards in Northern Ireland, Clydeside and other parts of the United Kingdom?
Mr. ALEXANDERI cannot give any undertaking of this character in advance. The Government will, of course, take into account all relevant considerations.
§ 29. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the increase in the number of men employed under all Votes in the Royal dockyard, Portsmouth, between 1st July of this year and 21st October; and if any increase on the money voted by the last Parliament for Royal dockyards is contemplated?
Mr. ALEXANDERAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on the 29th October (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 10); the answer to the second part is in the negative.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer then given clashed with what was said by his colleague; and may I at the same time say that this question is put down in no hostile spirit, but in order to get the facts?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe answer I have just given in no way clashes with the previous answer given in the House.
§ Sir B. FALLEThe answer given by the right hon. Gentleman's colleague was that there was double the number of men working in the dockyards now that there was two months ago. As I have said, I ask this question with no hostile feeling, but just to clarify the matter.
Mr. ALEXANDERIf the House understood that, they were under a misapprehension. What my hon. Friend really intended to say was that the number of entries into the dockyards had been rather more than double the number of discharges.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAOn a point of Order. In view of the answer just given by the right hon. Gentleman, I wish to call your attention to a fact which I should not otherwise have mentioned, namely, that the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty has been altered in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is the first time that this particular case has been brought to my notice. Ministers and hon. Members are entitled to correct within narrow limits their speeches and answers to questions; they always have been.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI beg to give notice that I shall call attention to this as a matter affecting the privileges of the House.
§ Mr. AMMONPerhaps, with the permission of the House, I may settle the matter out of hand. The House will remember that there was considerable confusion when the question arose and that the hon. Member and myself were evidently talking about two entirely different things. Old Members of the 2018 House are quite familiar with receiving slips if the Gallery does not hear quite clearly what has happened. I entered on that what I ought to have said, and that seems to have thrown the whole matter out. I am glad to have this opportunity of doing justice to the hon. Member and at the same time making the position quite clear with regard to the dockyards and myself.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIn view of the fact that I mentioned this subject to you, Sir, will you allow me to say that, of course, I entirely accept what the hon. Gentleman says, but the alteration made my supplementary question look ridiculous.
§ Sir B. FALLEWill there be any saving in the Vote?
Mr. ALEXANDERIt is much too early for me to say that at the moment. At present, I am not contemplating asking for more money nor can I say if all the money already voted will be used.