§ 29. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the serious shortage of scrap iron in the country; and if he will accelerate the process of breaking up the warships now scheduled for this purpose.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsYes, Sir: and every endeavour is being made to ensure that there is no avoidable delay in handing over to the ship-breakers ships scheduled for breaking up.
§ Mr. HughesIn view of the serious shortage of steel for municipal houses and ploughshares, will the Minister consider adding a few more obsolete battleships to those to be scrapped?
§ Mr. EdwardsWe are considering that now actually, but I can inform my hon. Friend that more ships have been handed over to the ship-breakers than they have been able to break.