HC Deb 30 April 1963 vol 676 cc887-8
12. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what commercial work and what further Admiralty work has been undertaken or is planned since the assumption of control of Malta Dockyard by the Council of Administration.

24. Sir P. Agnew

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many commercial ships, other than those sent on Admiralty account, have been sent to the dockyard at Malta for repair since 15th February, 1963.

Mr. Fisher

Twenty commercial vessels have been dealt with, and the dockyard has continued to carry out work on Admiralty ships based on Malta. As I stated in the House on Friday, H.M.S. "Troubridge" should reach Malta for a major refit by the end of May.

Mr. Wall

Can my hon. Friend say whether the repair work arranged by Bailey (Malta) is being carried on by the Council of Administration? I quote, for example, the refit of the Egyptian destroyers. Can he say that now that the managing agents have been appointed, every effort will be made to attract commercial work to the dockyard?

Mr. Fisher

The point about the Egyptian destroyers is that it was hoped that this work would come to the dockyard, but the Egyptians asked for a reduced cost if they could get it. The Council of Administration was quite unable to pursue that matter, because the relevant documents, like most of the documents in the dockyard, had been removed by the Bailey directors before the Council took office. This really has made the work of the Council almost impossibly difficult.

Mr. Awbery

Can the Under-Secretary tell us whether the development from the naval to the commercial work in Malta has been held up during the past two months while the negotiations between the firms have been taking place? Will he also tell us when the first dock will be ready to take any cargo ship, either dry cargo or oil?

Mr. Fisher

I do not think that the work has been held up but, of course, now that the new managing agents have been appointed—their appointment was announced yesterday—I expect that the efforts to draw in commercial shipping to the dockyard will be intensified, and will have good results. I am afraid that I do not know the answer to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question at the moment, but I will find it out and let him know as soon as possible.

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