§ Mr. BROADasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the intentions of his Department with respect to the ex-German floating dock now in Portland Harbour, on which the work started in January of this year has now been brought to a standstill: whether he is aware that the whole value of this dock, together with the money already spent upon it, will be entirely wasted unless 2076W the necessary repair work is shortly carried out; and whether, in view of the great amount of unemployment in this district of men suitable for this class of work, he can see his way to an early resumption of this work?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe men who were engaged at Portland on the reconditioning of this floating dock were temporarily entered at that port under the scheme for the relief of unemployment, out of money available on Navy Estimates in the financial year now closed. We intend to resume this work as soon as practicable, but it will probably be necessary to transfer the dock to another yard, where the work can be done under more convenient and advantageous conditions. The value of the money already spent will not, as the hon. Member suggests, be wasted, as the dock will certainly be completed for service in due course.