§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a large shipbuilding contact has been placed in the United States 266W of America; that the reason stated for taking this course is that the owners were unable to give the order to any shipbuilding firm in this country by reason of the great congestion prevailing in the private yards; and whether, in the event of a similar difficulty occurring, he will consider the possibility of offering the facilities of Devonport dockyard and thereby prevent the necessity of placing contracts for merchant shipbuilding in foreign countries?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am afraid I have no information which would enable me to say why the owners in this case did not place their order with the shipbuilding firms in this country. But, of course, in pursuance of the recommendations of the Colwyn Committee, we shall lose no opportunity to secure work for which we have facilities in the Royal Dockyards.