§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of Admiralty whether he can say if the work of the new crane road, at the north yard extension, Keyham, recently entrusted to the employés of the works department, under the superintending civil engineer, has been given out to contract; and, if so, why this course has been taken, seeing that so many masons and labourers are under notice of discharge?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASome preliminary work in connection with the construction of the track for the crane is being done departmentally. The contract for the construction of the track itself has not yet been let, but in view of the specialised character of the work involved, it is proposed to invite tenders. I would remind my hon. Friend that this will mean the employment of a good deal of local labour. Anxious as we are to mitigate the hardships involved in reductions which are inevitable, we do not possess the plant nor the construction staff necessary for the execution of specialised engineering work of this character. We shall call the attention of the successful competitor for this work to the fact that labour is, and will be, set free as a result of dockyard reductions, and we shall invite him to entertain favourably any application from suitable men for employment. I may tell my hon. Friend that of the various works required by the Navy in the immediate future, a considerable number will fall to the Devonport district.