§ Mr. KIRKWOODasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many Admiralty contracts are in progress on the Clyde and other establishments; is overtime being worked on any of these contracts; and will he consider the advisability of conferring with the Minister of Labour to prevent overtime on State contracts so that the available work can be spread over the largest number of men?
Lord STANLEYI assume that the hon. Member is referring to contracts for hulls and machinery of His Majesty's ships. Details of such contracts at present in hand or allocated to the Clyde and certain other districts were given in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Pearson) on 14th February. As regards the remainder of the question, it is the practice when placing contracts for ships and their machinery to impress upon the contractors the desirability of avoiding the working of overtime, in the present state of unemployment.