CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR.

HC Deb 04 March 1931 vol 249 cc377-9

26. Mr. MACLEAN

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the amount of constructional and repair work being carried out on Government ships in the respective yards on the Clyde, giving the class and number of the ships and the total estimated value of the work?

Mr. AMMON

Under the 1930 programme the following new construction work has been allocated to Clyde firms:

• Hull and machinery of two destroyers.
• Machinery of a flotilla leader.
• Turbines for 2 sloops.

The total value of these contracts is over £600,000.

In addition, there are in course of completion under the 1928 programme, two destroyers of a total value of above £440,000. No major items of repair are carried out on the Clyde, repairs to His Majesty's Ships being normally effected in His Majesty's Dockyards.

Mr. MACLEAN

Is it not the case that repair work on naval vessels is very often done in the yards in which the vessels were built?

Mr. AMMON

That might happen now and again for special reasons, but normally the dockyards exist expressly for repair work to His Majesty's ships.

Mr. MACLEAN

Is the hon. Gentleman going to lead the House to believe that a naval vessel in Scottish waters requiring repair work has to go to southern waters instead of to a Clyde shipyard?

Mr. AMMON

That is so if it can be brought round.

Viscountess ASTOR

Was it not promised by the Labour party that Government work would be done in Government yards?

Mr. AMMON

It is done.

Mr. MACLEAN

Was it not promised by the late Government that one of the southern yards would be closed when they closed Rosyth?

27. Mr. MACLEAN

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the amount of constructional and repair work at present being carried on in the different Government dockyards, giving the number and class of the ships and the total estimated value of the work?

Mr. AMMON

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the vessels under construction and repair at the home dockyards at the present time. I regret that I cannot state the total estimated value of the work without an investigation, involving much labour, which would scarcely be justified. I may say that the money provision for home dockyard work in the financial year 1930 is£5,919,525.

Following is the list:

Portsmouth.

Under construction:

• 2 Destroyers.
• 1 Auxiliary craft.

Under repair:

• 1 Battleship—In hand for reconstruction.
• 1 Battle cruiser—In hand for large repair.
• 1 Battleship—Preparing for sale.
• 1 Cruiser—Refitting.
• 1 Destroyer leader—Retubing.
• 2 Destroyers—Refitting.
• 2 Submarines—Carrying out alterations.
• 2 Minesweepers—Refitting.
• 1 Fishery protection gunboat—Repairing.
• 17 Auxiliary craft—Repairing.

Devonport.

Under construction:

• 2 Cruisers.
• 2 Sloops.
• 1 Lighter.

Under repair:

• 1 Battleship—Refitting.
• 1 Aircraft carrier—Refit and retubing boilers.
• 1 Cruiser—Large repair.
• 3 Cruisers—Refitting.
• 1 Cruiser—Repairing.
• 1 Destroyer—Refitting.
• 1 Destroyer—Repairing.
• 2 Submarines—Refitting.
• 1 Submarine—Carrying out alterations.
• 24 Auxiliary vessels—Repairing.
• 3 Auxiliary vessels—Preparing for sale.

Chatham.

Under construction:

• 2 Sloops.
• 3 Submarines.
• 1 Auxiliary vessel.

Under repair:

• 4 Cruisers—Large repair.
• 1 Cruiser—Refitting.
• 1 Cruiser—Repairing.
• 1 Cruiser—Preparing for sale.
• 2 Destroyers—Retubing.
• 2 Destroyers—Refitting.
• 1 Destroyer—Carrying out alterations.
• 2 Submarines—Refitting.
• 3 Submarines—Carrying out alterations.
• 2 Minesweepers—Refit.
• 6 Auxiliary vessels—Repairing.

Sheerness.

• 2 Destroyers—Retubing.
• 2 Submarines—Refitting.
• 1 Fishery protection gunboat—Refitting.
• 7 Auxiliary craft—Repairing.