§ Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the increasing congestion at the docks, he can consider the advisability of making use of any of the Royal dockyards either wholly or in part for the temporary relief of the situation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Committee which recently sat under Lord Colwyn considered the question raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, amongst others, and in their opinion the only dockyard which presents reasonable attractions is Devon-port. The Committee also report that they consider that the Admiralty should invite offers from shipowners, and I am assured by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty that any such requests would be most sympathetically considered. I would like to point out, however, that congestion is not so much due to the insufficient number of docks as to the shortage of railway wagons and receiving capacity of the ultimate destination to which it is desired to send goods.