HC Deb 30 March 1938 vol 333 cc1991-2
39. Sir W. Smiles

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the Director of Dockyards possesses no shipbuilding or engineering experience, any other officers with these qualifications have the privilege of direct contact with himself or the Admiralty Board?

Mr. Cooper

While I cannot accept the implication that the present Director of Dockyards is without experience of the kind referred to, I should point out that the principal advisers of the Board on important shipbuilding, engineering and electrical matters are the Director of Naval Construction, the Engineer-in-Chief, and the Director of Electrical Engineering respectively. These officers have direct contact with all members of the Board and are consulted by the Director of Dockyards, who is directly responsible to the Board for the general management of the Royal Dockyards.

Sir W. Smiles

Is there any chance of the Admiralty recognising the services of their technical officers in the same way as the War Office have recognised the services of Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Brown?

Mr. Cooper

I do not quite follow my hon. Friend's question. The Admiralty have lent the services of Vice-Admiral Brown to the War Office. I do not know whether my hon. Friend suggests that the Admiralty should borrow one of the Generals from the War Office in return.

Sir W. Smiles

I was only asking in view of the fact that Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Brown is on the Army Board and there is no Engineer Admiral on the Navy Board.

Mr. Cooper

This question has long been under consideration by the Board of Admiralty, and I am not prepared to make a statement on it at present.

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