§ 82. Mr. Irvineasked the Minister of Transport what was the number of British ships sent abroad for repair, overhaul and refitting, and the cost thereof, in the last 12 months, or latest convenient period; and how that number compares with the number of foreign ships sent to this country for repair, overhaul and refitting, and the cost thereof in the same period.
§ Mr. BarnesIn the period 3rd March to 24th November, 1949, permission has 223W been given for the release of foreign currency for repairs (other than voyage or running repairs) to nine U.K. ships. During the same period 29 foreign ships carried out similar repairs in U.K. yards In neither case are figures of the actual cost available.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Transport if he will state, in convenient form, the costs of repairing and refitting ships in the principal ports of Britain and in those European ports in which he has recently given permission for ships to be repaired.
§ Mr. BarnesThe only information I have relates to quotations from Holland for the repair of six ships during the last four months which is given below:
Foreign Quotation of Cost. Best U.K. Quotation of Cost. Example £ £ 1 2,200 4,000 2 96,000 120,000 3 13,900 18,550 4 4.436 5,750 5 13,900 18,550 6 22,730 33,873 I have no information as to the actual cost of the work done on which to base a comparison.