HC Deb 22 April 1959 vol 604 cc374-5
22. Mr.. Braddock

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the imminent completion of Admiralty work on H.M.S. "Albrighton" at the Victoria Dock, Birkenhead, on H.M.S. "Tughril", at the Clarence Dock, Liverpool, at the end of April, and on H.M.S. "Tippu Sultan", at the Morpeth Dock, Liverpool, at the end of June, will result, respectively, in approximately 300, 500 and 500 men of all trades becoming unemployed; and what steps he is taking to provide alternative employment for the 1,300 men at present employed in these yards.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith)

Yes, Sir. The amount of naval work now available for allocation to commercial yards is very small, but the claims of all areas are considered when allocations are made.

Mrs. Braddock

Cannot the Civil Lord be more explicit about the position? These 1,300 men will be completely out of work by the end of June and have had no indication at all as to what is to happen in regard to Admiralty work to take up the numbers who are and will be unemployed.

Mr. Galbraith

I quite understand the hon. Lady's point, but she must realise that when the size of the Fleet has been declining the number of ships available to be put out to contract in private yards is also bound to decline.

Mr. P. Wells

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not divert work from the Admiralty yards in order to provide employment elsewhere?

Mr. Galbraith

The policy of the Admiralty in this matter, as I have told the hon. Gentleman many times, is to repair naval vessels in the Royal dockyards up to their capacity.