§ 2. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Shipping how many of the personnel of his Department have had any previous acquaintance with shipping matters; and will he give the percentage of such per sons in relation to the staff as a whole?
§ Sir J. GilmourThe headquarters staff of the Ministry of Shipping, excluding typing and temporary clerical staff, includes 60 persons recruited from the shipping industry on account of their specialist experience and knowledge, and 407 civil servants employed before the war in the Board of Trade on work now transferred to the Ministry of Shipping. These, together, represent 74 per cent. of the relevant staff. The remaining 26 per cent. consist of civil servants, transferred 504 from other Government Departments, many of whom are engaged on work common to all Departments, such as finance, establishment, legal or statistical work, or have had previous experience, either in the Ministry of Shipping during the last war or in the Mercantile Marine Department of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. ShinwellHas the right hon. Gentleman recruited persons of specialised ship knowledge from the ship-owning side? Will he at the same time consult the various trade unions of officers and men in order to ascertain whether they have any contribution to make?
§ Sir J. GilmourThe great bulk of the staff was recruited before I had anything to do with the Department, but I have been in very close touch with all the bodies.
§ Mr. ShinwellI am aware of that, but does the right hon. Gentleman now propose, since he has taken over the work of the Department, to consult the officers' and men's unions, so as to avail himself of their specialised knowledge?
§ Sir J. GilmourI have the advantage of their specialised knowledge on the Advisory Council which I have set up.
§ Mr. GallacherIs there any one of these men who has any practical experience of the conditions of the men who sail the ships at sea?
§ Sir J. GilmourYes, Sir, certainly.
§ Mr. KirkwoodHas the right hon. Gentleman anyone on his staff who has practical knowledge of the building of a ship, such as the manager of a shipbuilding yard, or one who could take over the management of a yard?
§ Sir J. GilmourYes, Sir. The Department dealing with shipbuilding is at present being set up, and I am quite certain that we have practical men on it.