§ Mr. CREANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty Minute reserving all repair work, other than contract work, to His Majesty's dockyards has in any way been altered; and, if so, will he consider the claims of the shipbuilding yards at Passage West, county Cork, for a portion of such work?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Minute referred to is presumably the decision not to undertake large repairs of His Majesty's ships by private contract. No change in that policy has been made. The firm at Passage Wrest have been informed quite recently that they shall have an opportunity of tendering for any docking and repair work required in the vicinity of Queens-town that cannot be undertaken by Haul-bowline Dockyard. I may add that the firm have already declined to tender for the construction of some lighters.