HC Deb 07 February 1940 vol 357 cc196-8
25. Mr. Shinwell

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether vessels for the merchant navy, built under the direction of his Department, will, on completion, be managed by private firms or the Ministry of Shipping; and whether any of the vessels now building for private owners will be transferred to the Government?

Mr. Churchill

Merchant ships built by the Admiralty will be delivered to the Ministry of Shipping, who will make arrangements for their management. Vessels now building for private owners will not, so far as can at present be foreseen, be transferred to Government ownership but will be subject to requisition or other control by the Minister of Shipping.

Mr. Shinwell

So far as tonnage under the control of the right hon. Gentleman is concerned, I take it that there will be no allocation to private firms, but that the ownership will be vested in the Ministry of Shipping?

Mr. Churchill

We build for the Ministry of Shipping and we transfer the ships when built to the Ministry, and they arrange what the future of these ships is to be.

Mr. Shinwell

If Questions are addressed to the right hon. Gentleman as to the disposal and ultimate use of the ships which are being built under the control of his Department, will he be able to answer, or should they be addressed to the Minister of Shipping?

Mr. Churchill

In my view the ultimate fate of these ships rest with the Ministry of Shipping.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Will the ships which are transferred to the Ministry of Shipping be subsequently managed in all respects by the Ministry of Shipping?

Mr. Churchill

Certainly, that is what it is for.

26. Mr. Ede

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has noticed that the number of men normally employed in shipbuilding and ship-repairing registered as unemployed at the South Shields Employment Exchange, rose from 578 and 588 in September and October, 1939, respectively, to 721 and 703 in November and December, 1939, respectively; and what steps he is taking fully to employ the man-power available for shipbuilding and ship-repairing at South Shields?

Mr. Churchill

I am aware of the figures referred to by the hon. Member. The position is that all available shipbuilding berths in South Shields are occupied with merchant ship building orders. The volume of ship repair work is bound to fluctuate and the policy is to spread such work over the country as far as possible. The facilities at South Shields will be fully borne in mind both for repair work and naval conversion work. All will be needed. The January unemployment figure at South Shields in this industry fell to 521.

Mr. Ede

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to reopen the yards that were closed during the 20's and 30's?

Mr. Churchill

I am quite sure that every yard and every man are going to be used to the utmost capacity.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that unless he opens yards and restores yards formerly in use it will be impossible to replace our lost tonnage?

Mr. Magnay

Will my right hon. Friend take care to see that Sir James Lithgow has nothing to do with this?

Mr. Churchill

He has almost everything to do with it. In answer to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell), I am sure the whole capacity available will have to be used.

31. Mr. Riley

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the scheme under which the Admiralty becomes responsible as from the 1st February, 1940, for all mercantile shipbuilding and repairs will include the transfer of all shipbuilding and repair establishments to Government control and ownership; and whether the employés in such establishments will, as from the date mentioned, become Government employés?

Mr. Churchill

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the negative. There is no intention of preventing shipbuilding on private account, and the Admiralty is responsible for issuing licences for this purpose.