§ Mr. Attlee(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make as to the future responsibility for merchant shipbuilding?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)His Majesty's Government have decided that the Admiralty shall become responsible for merchant shipbuilding and repairs as from 1st February, 1040. The arrangement is similar to that adopted in the latter part of the war of 1914–18.
It is sought to secure from this change in organisation the advantages of centralising the use of all resources available for shipbuilding, both in materials and in labour, and of introducing greater elasticity into the allotments of capacity to naval and mercantile requirements.
The Admiralty will assume the responsibility for ensuring the necessary production of mercantile shipping, as well as that of meeting the requirements of the Navy, it being understood that, as regards the types of merchant ship to be built, the Admiralty will meet the requirements of the Ministry of Shipping, after consultation with representatives of shipowners.
Sir James Lithgow will be appointed to the Board of Admiralty as Controller of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs, and Sir Amos Ayre, who is at present Director of the Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Division of the Ministry of Shipping, will become Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs at the Admiralty.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the Prime Minister aware that Sir James Lithgow, who has been appointed to this important post, was the person primarily responsible for the closing down of shipyards in this country and is he the most suitable person to appoint to a post of this kind? What is the primary reason for his transfer from the Ministry 1152 of Shipping to the Admiralty? Is it because the organisation for the replacement of shipping tonnage has broken down? Furthermore, are we to understand that the Admiralty have now assumed complete control of mercantile shipbuilding operations and what about the financial arrangements? Will they fall on the Navy Vote?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member has asked me too many questions for me to be able to remember them.
§ Mr. ShinwellThis is a very important matter. The first question was whether the Prime Minister can explain the reason why Sir James Lithgow has been appointed to this position in view of the fact that Sir Amos Ayre was appointed to the Ministry of Shipping for this purpose? Has he been deposed?
§ The Prime MinisterHe has not been deposed and Sir James Lithgow was considered to be the most fitting person and the best qualified person for the position to which he has been appointed.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs regards control, does this mean that the Ministry of Shipping has no longer any say as regards the building of merchant shipping, that it is entirely a matter for the Admiralty and what about the question of finance and does it fall on the Navy Vote?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are two questions. Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to answer the latter Question first. The question of finance, of course, will be the responsibility of the Admiralty. With regard to the first Question, the hon. Member has already forgotten what I said in my answer. If he will read it he will see that his inference is quite incorrect.
§ Mr. ShinwellMay I—
§ Mr. Speaker rose—
§ Mr. ShinwellOn a point of Order. When a Question is put by Private Notice and obviously by arrangement between the Government and the Leader of the Opposition, surely it implies that it is a Question of primary importance, and in view of that I would ask with the greatest respect whether it is desirable that Supplementary Questions, which even the Prime Minister admits are of importance, should be suppressed? Otherwise how are we to get the information we desire?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe fact that the matter was important was why I allowed the right hon. Gentleman to put this Question as a Private Notice Question. In regard to Supplementary Questions I always allow one or two, but that cannot be taken as a justification for subjecting Ministers to a sort of viva voce examination.
§ Mr. AttleeI had one or two Supplementaries to put after my hon. Friend had put his, in order to elucidate the exact nature of the Prime Minister's very important statement. May I be allowed to put a Supplementary Question?
§ Mr. SpeakerHad the right hon. Gentleman risen first I would have called upon him first. He can certainly put his Supplementary Questions now.
§ Mr. AttleeCan the Prime Minister give us any further details in regard to this arrangement? Do I understand that the Board of Admiralty will be responsible for the actual building of the ships? To whom will the ships belong when they are built, and what will be the nature of the finance in this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir; the Admiralty will be responsible for the building of these ships. When built the ships will be the property of the Government. As to the finance, perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to put a Question down.
§ Mr. BuchananIs it not the case that Sir James Lithgow is connected with a large number of companies of one kind or another which all require a certain amount of service? Will he, in all cases, give up his connection with those companies and devote his full time to the task to which the Prime Minister has appointed him?
§ The Prime MinisterI think I must ask the hon Member to put that Question down, because I am not quite in a position to answer it.
§ Mr. BuchananSurely, in making the appointment of a well-known figure like Sir James Lithgow, who is the governing director of banks, of Beardmore's, Colville's, and his own firm, it would be an ordinary precaution to find out whether he would devote his time to the appointment free from those companies?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that the hon. Member need be under any misapprehension or apprehension in the matter; but I did not want to give an answer when I was not fully equipped to do so.
§ Sir A. SinclairIs Sir James Lithgow to be a salaried member of the Board of Admiralty?
§ The Prime MinisterI understand that he is not to get any salary.
§ Mr. AttleeDoes the Prime Minister understand that there is a feeling of disturbance in the mind of the public at the appointment of all kinds of persons who have special private interests, when it is not clear whether those gentlemen have abandoned their private interests in acting as servants of the Government or whether they are continuing to be representative both of their private interests and of the Government service?
§ The Prime MinisterI recognise that it is very important that there should be no suspicion that a man who is appointed to an important post under the Government should have other interests which might conflict with his duty as a servant of the Government, but I feel sure that that has been fully provided for in the present case; but, as I say, I am not fully informed of all the circumstances, and I think that the best plan would be to have a Question put down.
§ Mr. BuchananAre there any more Scotch employers that the Prime Minister needs? It is a hard-hearted crowd you are getting.