HC Deb 14 November 1945 vol 415 cc2286-7W
Sir W. Smithers

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many vessels of the type known as motor fishing vessels have been built for the purpose of the war; how many have been sold; and in view of the shortage of food, what steps he proposes to take to speed up the sale of the balance.

Mr. Alexander

Admiralty orders for motor fishing vessels total 978. None has yet been sold. Of those completed, 9 per cent. are on War Department service. Of the rest nearly two-thirds are on Naval service overseas, and in all probability it will not be practicable or economical to return them to this country. The others are all at present employed on Naval service at home. Any which may become surplus to Service requirements at home will be offered for sale to the industry. A number of these vessels, partially constructed at the end of the war, will not now be completed for Naval service. These will shortly be offered to the industry in the state they had reached when the Admiralty contracts terminated.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why no 50 ft. motor fishing vessels are being released from naval service, in view of the shortage of craft for the white fish and herring industries and the marked suitability of these vessels for this work.

Mr. Alexander

Of the vessels of this type already completed about two-thirds are employed on foreign stations; they are in full use in the Far East. A few are in War Department service. The rest, employed in home waters, are meet- ing various naval requirements which will continue at least for some time, more particularly as we expect by the end of the year to complete the release of all the requisitioned motor vessels from naval service. It will probably be impracticable and uneconomical to bring back vessels of this type from distant waters; but any which may eventually become surplus at home will be offered to the fishing industry. A number which were under construction when hostilities ceased are about to be offered to the industry in the state they had reached when the Admiralty contracts terminated.