§ Sir Frederick Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, with the closure of the ropery at Chatham dockyard, the same facilities for the necessary supply of rope to the Royal Navy in peace or war is available in any other Royal Navy dockyard.
§ Mr. BlakerIt is our practice to obtain the bulk of the MOD's requirement for rope from commercial sources. The ropery at Chatham dockyard is the only one still in use94W in any Royal dockyard. The one at Portsmouth ceased production in 1860 and that at Devonport in 1938. We are exploring the possibility of arranging for the Chatham ropery to continue to supply rope to the MOD, under commercial management, after its planned closure next year as part of the rundown and closure of Chatham naval base.