HC Deb 22 July 1947 vol 440 cc1037-8
47. Mr. J. J. Robertson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of foreign exchange expended in the building and repair of British-owned merchant vessels in foreign shipyards since the end of the war in Europe.

Mr. Dalton

About £4 million.

Mr. Robertson

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that this amount of expenditure might not have been saved by the work being carried out in this country instead of abroad?

Mr. Dalton

I am advised that the general policy has always been to have repairs done abroad only when it is necessary to enable ships to return home, or if a British shipyard has not the available capacity. We would naturally always give a preference to our own shipyards.

Major Bruce

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that he is in consultation with his noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty to ensure making use of our Royal Dockyards in this way?

Mr. Dalton

Of course, I do speak with my noble Friend from time to time on this matter, and I am in favour of minimising foreign exchange expenditure and maximising the work in our dockyards, and using the civil and Royal Dockyards at home. It is simply a question of whether the capacity is always available.

Captain Marsden

Is it not obvious that repairs have to take place in foreign shipyards. The Question also includes building—can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any building abroad on our account?

Mr. Keenan

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the efforts which we have made to prevent ship repairing going abroad, and that when we have approached the Minister of Transport he has said that he has no power to prevent that taking place. Is he aware of the belief that the shipowners find it cheaper to send their vessels abroad for repairs? Can my right hon. Friend prevent currency from being spent in that way?

Mr. Dalton

All my hon. Friends in all parts of the House are pressing on an open door, as far as I am concerned. I do not want to spend foreign exchange, and I do want the work done at home. If any case can be given showing that work has been done abroad when it could have been done here, I shall be glad to go into it with my noble Friend.