§ 4. Mr. Shinwellasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many naval vessels are laid up; what is the cost of their maintenance; and how many are due for break-up.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingOf the ships listed on page 6 of my noble Friend's current Explanatory Statement, 300 are laid up in reserve; their maintenance costs about £6.75 million; 19 of the 300 have been approved for scrapping since the start of the financial year.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs not this an astonishing state of affairs, expending this vast sum of money for the care and maintenance of vessels the bulk of which will never be used in any future war? Why is it necessary to have in reserve 300 naval vessels cluttering up the docks? Is not this is a disgrace? Why cannot he put an end to it?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingIt is prudent, in the interests of the defence of our country, our commitments and the Commonwealth, to spend 1½ per cent. of the Navy Vote on a reserve which is more and more a useful and operational reserve and not in different states of reserve, as was done when the right hon. Gentleman was responsible.
§ Mr. PagetCan the hon. Gentleman tell us what sort of war he has in mind which would allow us time to bring these vessels back into service? It is rather difficult to imagine either the fire brigade kind of war or a general war giving us the time that would be required.
§ Mr. Orr-EwingWe are working on a greater standard of readiness for our reserve ships so that we have the flexibility and can bring them forward more quickly should they ever be needed. It should be remembered that a large number of these ships are small ships.