HC Deb 05 May 1924 vol 173 cc50-1W
Major HORE-BELISHA

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) whether any efforts have been made to sell the rope that can be produced in Devonport Dockyard upon the open market; and, if not, whether he will consider making rope for sale on the market in order to give employment to the national workers who live in Devonport;

(2) whether he has taken steps to offer the rope made in Devonport Dockyard to public departments to meet their requirements of this commodity; and, if not, whether he will make arrangements in the future for all public departments who require rope to purchase it from the Devonport Dockyard ropery, in order to secure employment for the population of Devonport;

(3) what stocks of tarred yarn are held in the dockyard at Devonport; how long it will take the yard to dispose of these stocks on the present basis of consumption, and if there is a possibility that this yarn will deteriorate on account of the length of time it has been kept in stock; and whether these stocks could be disposed of on the outside market, so that the machinery at present idle in the ropery could be utilised to advantage and more workpeople employed;

(4) whether he will give figures showing how the cost of production of rope in Devonport Dockyard, if it were produced for sale upon a commercial basis, would compare with the sale price of marketable rope produced by commercial firms?

Mr. AMMON

Rope made in the Royal Dockyards is supplied on repayment in compliance with orders received from other Departments of State. The Admiralty do not manufacture goods for sale in the open market. The whole question of the manufacture of cordage and yarn in the Royal Dockyards is now under investigation in order that the basis of future manufactures may be determined. As a matter of convenience supplies to other public departments are made from Chatham yard. The cost of production is approximately the same at Devonport and Chatham, but comparison with the articles produced by the trade would be very difficult, as the Admiralty product is made from a quality of Italian hemp superior to that which is generally used commercially.