§ 3. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is yet in a position to state when the contracts for 30 trawlers and fish factory ships, ordered by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from British shipbuilders, will be signed; what is the extent of the orders in terms of money and kind; with which British shipyards they are being placed; and, in particular, how many contracts in money and in kind are being placed with Aberdeen shipyards
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasNo, Sir. I am informed that negotiations are still in progress in Moscow. The second and third parts of the Question do not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister remember my asking him a somewhat similar Question some months ago, when he gave a very hopeful answer? Has he abandoned that hope and is he not taking any steps to see that these orders can be accepted?
§ Mr. ThomasI certainly have not abandoned that hope, but it is not in my hands. Negotiations are going on between these private firms and Soviet Russia in Moscow at the moment. I am afraid the matter is out of my control, but I hope it will not take much longer.