SHIPBUILDING CONTRACTS. (Hansard, 27 January 1937)

9. Miss Ward
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can announce any further allocations under the 1936 programme?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Lord Stanley)
As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the allocation of the following contracts has recently been announced in the Press:

His Majesty's Ship "Illustrious" to Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., Barrow.

His Majesty's Ship "Victorious" to Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., Walker-on-Tyne, with machinery by Walls-end Slipway & Engineering Co., Ltd.

His Majesty's Ship "Lassoo" (Tender to Anti-Submarine School) to J. I. Thornycroft & Co., Ltd., Southampton.

His Majesty's Ship "Widgeon" to Yarrow & Co., Ltd., Scotstoun.
The contract for the Fishery Protection trawler "Mastiff" will be placed with Henry Robb, Ltd., of Leith, with machinery by the North Eastern Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. The orders for the remaining vessels of the 1936 programme are likely to be placed in the next few weeks, but I cannot make any further announcement at present.

§ Mr. A. V. Alexander
In view of the announcement in the Press about the types of vessels at present being built, when may we expect a statement of the characteristics of the new types of cruiser?

Lord Stanley
I will let the right hon. Gentleman know.

Captain Arthur Evans
With regard to the allocation of repairs and renovations, can the Noble Lord say whether the South Wales repair ports will be taken into consideration for the work?

Lord Stanley
As the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, the greater part of this repair work—practically all of it—is done in His Majesty's dockyards.

Captain Evans
Yes, Sir, but, having regard to the special position of South Wales, is it not possible for the Admiralty to give some proportion of the work to these ports?

Lord Stanley
The position has to be borne in mind that we must try to keep the dockyards fully employed, when there is repair work to be done, and that they are particularly skilled in work of this kind.