§ 19. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many new vessels of the 1933 building programme have already been ordered; and what is the number of vessels for which contracts have been placed, and their value, with private firms, and the names of those firms, and with Government dockyards, respectively?
Lord STANLEYApart from small craft, the vessels of the 1933 building programme that have been ordered to date are: 864
The Convoy Sloop (His Majesty's Ship "Bittern") from Messrs. J. Brown & Co., Ltd., Clydebank, and The Coastal Sloop (His Majesty's Ship "Kingfisher") from Messrs. Fairfield Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Govan.It would not be in the public interest to disclose the contract prices.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that £6,500,000 has been given to private shipyards, and only £1,500,000 to Government dockyards, and will the Noble Lord tell the House why there is this discrimination against Government dockyards?
Lord STANLEYThe hon. Member does not take into account what work the Government dockyards are doing in repairs, which largely accounts for it.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the Noble Lord tell us why private dockyards should get four times as much as Government dockyards?
Lord STANLEYI have given the reason already, that the main purpose for which we require national dockyards is for repair work.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case that there are 12 times the number of workers outside the Admiralty dockyards who have to be provided for?