Colonel COLLINSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what priority is given for machines and material required for the national shipyards; and what priority is given for machines and material in private shipyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe class of priority given for machines and material for use in the shipyards varies with the date at which such machinery and material is required. No preference is given to the national yards in the supply of plant or material. On the contrary, it has always been, and always will be, the rule that orders for plant for private yards shall receive priority both as to machinery and material over orders placed for the national yards; in fact, cases have occurred where machinery was ordered and built for the national yards, and such machinery has been diverted to the private yard.