Research Ship (Completion)
25.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the Admiralty's intentions as to the completion of H.M.S. "Research"; and what amount of 'expenditure would be required for her completion.
On the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply made to the hon. Member for Chertsey (Captain Marsden) on 23rd February. As regards the second part, the cost of completing the "Research" as a sailing ship is estimated at £200,000; if she were engined, the cost would be considerably greater.
Is not the Financial Secretary aware of the important functions which this ship has to perform in the scientific field, with the help of the Merchant Navy, and, having spent so much money on her, does he say that there is now no prospect of the ship being completed, because the answer to which he referred said that nothing was to be done?
I have not said that there is no prospect of her being completed, and I do fully realise the importance of this ship, but we have a large number of commitments of very great importance and this must be related to the others.
Is not the necessity for this ship as great today, if not greater than before the war, when ships were more cheaply constructed?
It is, certainly, but we have a large number of commitments of great importance and we have to judge between them.
Ex-Service Men, Northern Ireland
26.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many non ex-Service men are employed by the Admiralty in Northern Ireland; and whether any ex-Service men have been discharged for redundancy during the last year in Northern Ireland.
The answer to the first part of the Question is 983 industrials and 209 non-industrials; to the second part, 54 industrials and 2 non-industrials.
Is the Civil Lord surprised that ex-Service men in Northern Ireland are most indignant at this state of affairs?
I cannot see any reason why they should be indignant. So far as ex-Service men are concerned, over 50 per cent. on the industrial side are ex-Service men, and over 65 per cent. on the non-industrial side.
Is it not the case that, if only ex-Service men were employed in the Admiralty yards at Belfast, the majority would be Eire citizens?