HC Deb 26 April 1939 vol 346 cc1121-2
25. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now make a statement on the progress made in' the stiffening of decks of merchant vessels, the provision of gun-mountings, and the training of merchant seamen in gunnery practice?

Mr. Shakespeare

In reply to the first part of the question I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Kirkdale (Sir R. Rankin) on 5th April last, and my speech on introducing the Navy Estimates. Fortnightly courses for the training of merchant seamen in gunnery were instituted last month and are being held at eight ports. The response of the men has been extremely good and 300 will have completed training by the end of this week. It is anticipated that about 3,000 will have received training within twelve months.

Mr. Shinwell

Is not the number of vessels which have been treated in this way inadequate for the purpose in view? Can the hon. Member say why it is that so small a number of men have been trained in gunnery practice? Have we not got a large number of men employed in the Mercantile Marine?

Mr. Shakespeare

On the first point, I do not think it is a bad record that by the end of the year something like 1,000 ships will have been stiffened. On the second point, we are going on as fast as we can.

Mr. Shinwell

Surely, 1,000 mechant ships is a very small percentage of the Mercantile Marine. Can the hon. Mem- ber give an assurance that the work will be expedited?

Mr. Shakespeare

The hon. Member will realise that the matter is not completely under our control. We have to rely upon the co-operation of the ship owners as they release the ships for the necessary steps to be taken.

Mr. Shinwell

Can we have an assurance that the ship owners are not making difficulties?

Mr. Shakespeare

The matter is governed by trading considerations.