§ 10. Miss Vickersasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the reduction of the size of the Royal Navy, if he will state the future policy in regard to Her Majesty's Dockyard in Devonport.
§ Mr. DigbyIf my hon. Friend is concerned to know whether there has been any change in the development plan for the Dockyard, the answer is "No, Sir." The plan remains as I outlined it to the Plymouth Corporation on 22nd February last. Progress depends solely on capacity to execute the work and the availability of funds.
§ Miss VickersIs my hon. Friend aware that £17 million worth of work which could have been obtained for the naval Dockyards has been put out to private industry? Is he aware mat my object in bringing the matter to his notice is that a quarter of the families in Plymouth depend for their livelihood on Devonport Dockyard? Is he aware that it is the only major industry there and that we are rather disturbed about future policy?
§ Mr. DigbyI can assure my hon. Friend that there was no shortage of work for the Dockyard. We have plenty of work, and if it is necessary to go outside to commercial yards it is because we have more work than we can put into existing Dockyards.
§ Mr. BottomleyWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that what has been said about Devonport is equally true of Chatham?
§ Mr. DigbyWe are well aware of Chatham's needs, and there is plenty of work for the Dockyard there as well.
§ Mr. AlbuIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the recent Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General states that work in the naval Dockyards was done considerably cheaper than in private dockyards?