§ 31. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give a list of articles for which tenders have been sought from His Majesty's dockyards and rejected in favour of contract work outside, and for what reason?
§ Mr. AMMONThe compilation of a detailed list of the articles in question would entail an expenditure of time and labour which I do not think would be justified. The dockyards are invariably invited, in competition with private contractors, to submit tenders for articles which they can economically manufacture, and the dockyard tender is accepted if the price is satisfactory.
§ Mr. MARKHAMIs it not a fact that the dockyards have overhead expenses which are grossly unfair in comparison with the overhead expenses of private firms?
§ Mr. AMMONI would not say that they are grossly unfair, but certain overhead charges are imposed in order to make comparison fairer with competing firms outside.
§ Mr. MARKHAMIs it not a fact that museums, policemen and firemen are included in overhead charges in the Royal dockyards, whereas in private firms there are no such charges?