§ 34. Mr. Oakshottasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now say when he expects to receive the report of the committee investigating ship-repairing facilities on Mersey-side; and whether this report when available will be published.
§ The Civil Lord to the Admiralty (Mr. Walter Edwards)In reply to the first part of his question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Collick) on 22nd May; the answer to the second part of the Question is that it is the intention to publish the report.
§ Mr. OakshottIs the Civil Lord aware that although the present level of employment is healthy and high, there is uneasiness as to the future position, which has not been dispelled by a recent hint about rising unemployment by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport?
§ Mr. EdwardsI do not think that has much to do with the publication of this report. We have just set up a working party to go into the situation of the Merseyside, and when their report is presented it will be considered in the light of the other responsibilities in the country.
§ Mr. CollickPending receipt of the Committee's report, will the Parliamentary Secretary do everything in his power to see that the ship-repairing facilities at Birkenhead are fully utilised?
§ Mr. EdwardsWe have no power to see that they are fully utilised, as they come under the control of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
§ 35. Mr. Oakshottasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any ship repair work on commercially owned vessels, similar to that referred to in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Report of the Controller and Auditor-General on Naval Dockyard Accounts, is still being undertaken in naval dockyards.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsNo, Sir.