§ 77. Sir T. Mooreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the proposed navalisation of the Directorate of Electrical Engineering will involve the employment of a greater number of electrical engineers by the Admiralty than under the present system in which civilians are employed; and whether he is satisfied that under the present conditions when highly skilled professional labour is very scarce it will be possible to obtain the necessary staff for this purpose without adversely affecting the economic position of the country. 62W last part of the Question, the scheme is, still in its infancy and the Admiralty has no reason to feel dissatisfied with its progress so far.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsThe navalisation of the Electrical Engineering Department will be a very gradual process. I cannot agree that it will necessarily lead to any increase in the number of electrical engineers employed by the Admiralty, nor that replacement of civilians by naval officers will have any adverse effect on the country's economic position.
§ 81. Sir P. Macdonaldasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, in view of the position of the Directorate of Electrical Engineering as a civilian department of long standing, he has now rejected the offer of the organisation representing the professional men in that department to discuss with him the economic and efficiency aspects of the decision to reorganise that department on strictly naval lines.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I made to the hon. Member for Southend-on-Sea (Mr. Channon) on 15th December last.