HC Deb 30 January 1957 vol 563 cc968-9
9. Miss Vickers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the number of naval and civilian men and women employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, in 1956 and 1957; how many vacancies there are; and in which departments.

Mr. Galbraith

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Miss Vickers

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that Devonport and Plymouth are areas which have unemployment over and above the average? Will he employ as many people as possible in the dockyard, anyhow during the next three months while petrol rationing exists?

Mr. Galbraith

Certainly, Sir.

Mr. Bottomley

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will take into consideration the needs of all the Royal Dockyards and not merely the requirements in a certain district?

Mr. Galbraith

Yes, Sir.

Following is the information:

The following numbers were employed on the dates shown:

— Naval Civilians (Industrial and non-industrial)
1st January, 1956. 51 19,391 (includes 563 women)
1st January, 1957. 49 19,423 (includes 566 women)

The number of vacancies is liable to variation from day to day—but on 18th January, 1957, the vacancies in the various dockyard departments totalled 195 as follows:

Constructive Department … 100
Engineering Department … 41
Electrical Engineering Department … 32
Captain of Dockyard's Department … 6
Naval Stores Department … 6
Dockyard Police … 10

10. Miss Vickers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in the planning and construction of the new workshops in the Devonport Dockyard, what consideration has been given to placing them so that they could be used for other industries if they became redundant should there be a cut in the armament programme.

Mr. Galbraith

Our plan for Devon-port Dockyard has been drawn up with the object of achieving maximum productivity in meeting the needs of the Royal Navy. Other considerations have been, and must be, subordinated to that primary aim.

Miss Vickers

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Several of the new workshops are now outside the present dockyard wall. Will my hon. Friend consider leaving them outside the wall so that if they become redundant to the dockyard they may be in a position to be used by other industries? Should they once come within the dockyard wall we may be told that it is impossible to use them in that manner.

Mr. Galbraith

I will certainly consider that suggestion.