§ Sir R. Gowerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give an assurance that all possible steps have been taken during the past few months to expedite the extension of ship repairing and building facilities in all Dominions and Colonies where there are reasonable possibilities of such extension?
Mr. AlexanderYes, Sir. While I can obviously not give details I can assure my hon. Friend that effective measures have been taken to extend shipbuilding and446W repair facilities in the Empire. During the last six months the number of warships building in the Dominions, India and the Colonies for the Naval Forces of the British Commonwealth has been more than doubled, and orders for a substantial number of merchant vessels have also been placed. The extension of naval repair services in the Dominions is a matter which can only be dealt with by the Dominion Governments; I am pleased to be able to record my thanks for the eagerness these Governments have shown to assist and the readiness with which they have welcomed Admiralty technical advice and co-operation. I am glad to say that warship repair facilities now exist and are being increasingly employed and constantly extended at almost all the main seaports of the Dominions, India and the Colonies. I am informed by My right hon. Friend the Minister of Shipping that he has taken, through his representatives in the Dominions, India and elsewhere, and with the full co-operation of the Governments concerned, all possible steps to ensure that repair facilities are adequately co-ordinated and improved.