HC Deb 16 December 1959 vol 615 c190W
143. Dr. Dickson Mabon

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what effect the recent Government decision concerning the gift of boom defence equipment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will have on the Royal Navy Boom Defence Depot at Greenock.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

When the N.A.T.O. Boom Depot at Fairlie is ready to receive the material allocated from the Greenock Boom Defence Depot, part of the site of the Greenock Depot will, subject to the settlement of certain legal and financial details, be transferred to the Renfrewshire Education Authority. This was announced to the House by my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland on Tuesday, 15th December.

144. Mr. Willis

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when it is proposed to commence work on the proposed new boom defence to meet North Atlantic Treaty Organisation requirements; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that Scotland will share in this work.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

Work is already going on in the jetty and buildings for the Boom Depot; the contractors are a Scottish firm. We have invited tenders for the supply of boom components under the normal N.A.T.O. rules for international bidding and we are now considering them. We expect to start laying parts of the boom with Admiralty workpeople in 1961.