HC Deb 23 October 1946 vol 427 cc1645-6
24. Commander Noble

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the name of the first ship in which cafeteria messing was fitted for trial and the date; the date on which the first ship was fitted with cafeteria messing; and the date on which the plans for galleys, cafeteria messing and dining halls in H.M.S. "Vanguard" were approved.

The Parliamentary Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. John Dugdale)

Instructions were issued in May, 1944, that H.M.S. "Implacable" was to be provided with a form of centralised messing. This was, however, an improvisation to meet messing requirements; the arrangements were made at very short notice and not under ideal conditions since no major alterations were possible. The first full satisfactory experiment in a British-built ship was made in H.M.S. "Vanguard." Approval for this experiment was given in August, 1944. I may add that instructions were first issued in April of this year that all ships undergoing a major refit were to be equipped with galleys up to American standard.

Commander Noble

In view of the dates given in the reply, would the Parliamentary Secretary like to reconsider the statement he made in the House on the Motion for the Adjournment on nth October?

Mr. Dugdale

No, Sir, certainly not. I stated then, and I repeat the statement now, that it was this year that instructions were first issued that ships were to be fitted with this new equipment as and when they underwent a major refit.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

As the Parliamentary Secretary has admitted that instructions were given by the Board in regard to H.M.S. "Vanguard." in August, 1944, is he also aware that those were trial arrangements which, if successful, were to be carried on in cruisers and other ships; and in view of the fact that this decision was made in 1944, were not his statements on nth October, in the Adjournment Debate, really based upon inaccurate information and made in a party political spirit which was never shown by the late First Lord? In those circumstances is he not prepared to withdraw his statements made in that Debate on nth October?

Mr. Dugdale

No, Sir, I am not prepared to do so, because I do not consider the statements were in any way misleading, and the facts are as I have now related them.

Commander Noble

Perhaps I might refresh the Parliamentary Secretary's memory—

Mr. Speaker

To begin a supplementary question with the words, "Perhaps I might refresh the Parliamentary Secretary's memory," is very wide of what is in Order. I think we had better get on with the next Question.