§ 14. Mr. STOREYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to take into consideration, when allocating contracts under future building programmes, not only cost, but the desirability in the national interest of so placing orders that in all shipbuilding areas a nucleus of experienced craftsmen may be maintained?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lord Stanley)In the allocation of contracts the Admiralty takes, and will continue to take, into consideration all pertinent factors, including that to which my hon. Friend refers, though the prices tendered must of necessity be given the greatest weight. I may add that Admiralty orders for ships and machinery are in hand in all the principal shipbuilding districts at the present time.
§ Mr. LOUIS SMITHHas my right hon. Friend the skilled craftsmen available in the various areas where Admiralty work can be carried on?
Miss WARDWill my right hon. Friend consider, for the purpose of keeping skilled craftsmen at their work, the allocation of Admiralty orders where skilled men are disappearing?