§ 42. Dame Irene Wardasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will give an assurance that the proposed Polaris-type nuclear submarine programme will give opportunities to the North-East Coast to participate.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThe Polaris programme will call for additional submarine building capacity. Its extent and the need for additional builders has not yet been decided, but firms which have had recent experience of submarine construction will certainly be considered along with others which have the necessary technical resources.
§ Dame Irene WardWill my hon. Friend recollect that a long time ago I was asking Questions about ensuring that skills were available in other parts of the country for submarine building? Since all these matters have been under discussion for some time, why have not we had a better Answer than that which my hon. Friend was able to give this afternoon in view of the fact that we on the North-East Coast wish to extend our shipbuilding programme in every possible way?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingI can well understand my hon. Friend's enthusiasm for the North-East Coast and Tyneside, but there are a number of factors to be taken into consideration, particularly the speed at which a firm can build these submarines. That is the most dominant factor in this tremendous programme.
§ Mr. McMasterIn placing these orders, will my hon. Friend pay attention to the very heavy unemployment in some of the bigger shipbuilding yards in the country?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingYes, Sir, but unfortunately unemployment is rife in areas other than Northern Ireland.
§ Sir C. OsborneWill this work be done on a cost-plus basis?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingIt is too early for me to give the details of how it will be done. We will certainly look into that matter. It is unlikely to be done on a competitive tender basis.
§ 43. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how it is intended to speed up the design stage of the hulls for Polaris-type submarines, in view of limited design staff.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingUnder Rear-Admiral Mackenzie a special unit is being created to direct this challenging programme. One of its first tasks is to set up the necessary design organisation. I cannot at present give any firm 937 forecast of the total size of the design staff, but we do not intend that this shall be a limiting factor.
§ Mr. DigbyIs there not a shortage in the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors? How will this work be done? Are designers to be brought in from outside?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingIt may be necessary to bring in designers from outside for this programme.
§ 44. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what officers have been ordered to make arrangements for the carrying out of the Polaris programme; and what is their pay.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingArrangements for carrying out the Polaris programme are now being made by existing officers in a large number of Admiralty departments.
The additional appointments so far made in the Admiralty wholly for Polaris duties are those of a Rear-Admiral as Chief Polaris Executive, an Assistant Secretary, a Director of Naval Construction and a Captain R.N. together with some supporting staff. The pay of these officers is that of their rank. There will be other appointments later, but these are still under consideration.
§ Mr. HughesCan the hon. Gentleman tell us exactly the sum which will be paid to these officers?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingNo, Sir. It will be according to their rank and seniority, and those can be discovered from ordinary documents which are published and are available in the Library.