Mr. H. SAMUELasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the gross tonnage of mercantile shipping completed in the United Kingdom in the month of January and the month of February, 1917?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe gross tonnage of mercantile shipping completed in January, 1917, was 48,089, and in February, 1917, 79,451 gross tons.
§ Mr. BYRNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the official statement of shortage of merchant tonnage, he is prepared to give official sanction to the establishment of a national shipyard in Dublin, or any other part of Ireland, on the lines of the Chepstow (Wales) yard; if he is aware that accommodation for such a yard is in existence where there is sufficient water at all times; and if he is aware that labour, skilled and unskilled, can be found?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 28th November last, there is no intention of establishing a national shipyard in Dublin, or in any other part of Ireland. I am aware of the site referred to by the hon. Member, and as I stated in reply to the Member for the St. Patrick's Division on the 14th January, it has been suggested to the Dublin Dockyard Company that this site should be utilised as an extension of their existing yard, but up to the present the Dublin Dockyard Company have not pursued the matter further. With regard to the last part of the question, I would point out that although labour, both skilled and unskilled, may be available for the working of a yard in Dublin, great difficulty would be experienced in providing the necessary material and plant for the equipment of such a yard, and it is considered that the output of merchant 665W tonnage can be more rapidly increased by extending the facilities of yards already in existence, than by the establishment of any yards which would be unproductive for some considerable period.