§ 37. Commander Purseyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what Admiralty contracts for warship repairs have been placed this year with Hull ship-repairing firms; what is their cost; and whether, in view of the unemployment among local ship-repair workers, he will consider placing further contracts with Hull firms.
§ The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Walter Edwards)Repairs to two warships have been undertaken during the present calendar year by ship-repairing firms in Hull, at a total cost of about £48,000. The claims of Hull will continue to be taken into consideration, along with those of other ship-repairing areas, when any further work of this kind is available.
§ Commander PurseyAs Hull has no building facilities, and employment is entirely dependent on repair work, will the Civil Lord consider further contracts for Hull firms when possible?
§ Mr. EdwardsI have just stated that Hull will be taken into consideration together with other ship-repairing areas.
§ Colonel J. R. H. HutchisonWill the Civil Lord remember that Hull is not the only ship-repairing area, and should not the main consideration be one of price?
§ Mr. EdwardsI am quite aware of the fact that Hull is not the only such area.