HC Deb 08 April 1970 vol 799 c532
19. Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of work put out to private contractors by Portsmouth Dockyard in the last financial year.

Dr. David Owen

The total value of work put out to civilian contract at Portsmouth Dockyard during the financial year 1968–69 was approximately £550,000.

Mr. Judd

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Does he appreciate that when there is so much evidence of spare capacity, and so many men are still on waiting time, the men in the dockyards simply do not understand why outside contracts should be arranged to the amount he has just quoted?

Dr. Owen

That amount must be set against a total of £92 million worth of work in the dockyards, so that it is a very small percentage. It is necessary only because of a shortage of labour in certain trades, or because the dockyard does not possess specialist resources in labour, material or facilities. We aim to reduce the amount of outside work to the minimum.