§ Viscountess ASTORasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Cunard Company offered to have the "Saxonia" and "Caronia" re-fitted at Plymouth, and were refused by the Admiralty; whether he will give the reasons for refusal in each case; and whether, in view of the large amount of unemployment in Plymouth and of the recommendations of Lord Colwyn's Committee, he will reconsider his decision?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe Cunard Company offered the "Saxonia" for reconditioning on 7th April, 1920, and on the 13th and 19th April conferences were held between the company's representatives and Admiralty officers to investigate the extent of the work involved, the company's representatives being informed that the work would be undertaken if at all possible. On 19th April, 1920, it was ascertained definitely that the work could be carried out at Portsmouth, but on the same date the company decided to place the work elsewhere. In October, 1919, when the "Caronia" was offered for reconditioning, the large amount of work in hand in the dockyards, and the shortage of men in the particular trades required for this class of work, rendered it impossible for the reconditioning of this ship to be carried out without prohibitive delay, and the offer was therefore unavoidably declined.