New Aircraft Types
1.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the last three types of aircraft accepted by his Department, what time has elapsed between the issue of first staff requirements and the equipping of the first Fleet Air Arm squadron.
Three and a half, two and three years approximately. These aircraft were adaptations or developments of aircraft already in existence and the times given are below the average for new types.
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the information I was seeking was of completely new types? The delay between the Admiralty and the Ministry of Supply is resulting in aircraft in almost every case being obsolescent before they are in the air, and if the hon. Gentleman is not aware of it will he recall such aircraft as the Skua, the Roc, the Fulmar, the Albacore and the Barracuda?
I must answer the Question that is put on the Order Paper. The Question asked for
That is the Question I answered."the last three types of aircraft accepted by his Department."
Cruisers
2.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many cruisers are now in commission.
I would refer the hon. Member to my noble Friend's Statement Explanatory of the Navy Estimates, 1951–52.
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that every time this Question is asked we have fewer cruisers in commission than before, and that with 30 cruisers sold or scrapped, this constitutes re-armament in reverse?
I would remind the hon. Gentleman that enemy fleets of cruisers have disappeared off the seas. The Navy staff requirements are fully met.
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that commerce raiders have not disappeared off the seas? Is it not a fact that we now have less than half the number of cruisers we had in 1939 and less than a quarter we had in 1914? Will the hon. Gentleman see that the cruisers which are half finished are completed quickly?
I must remind the hon. Gentleman that both the German and Japanese fleets have disappeared.
Merchant Ships (Defence)
3.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps are being taken to accumulate stocks of weapons and materials for the defensive armament of merchant ships in case of need.
Dual purpose weapons for defensively arming the Merchant Fleet in an emergency have been accumulated and suitably distributed throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that we have adequate stocks to meet an emergency?
Yes, I am satisfied about that; and as we get more guns of better quality for the Fleet it will be possible to improve the standard of defensive equipment for merchant ships.
Store Department (Removal)
4.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the estimated saving in labour and cost resulting from the removal of the Naval Store Department from Sheerness to His Majesty's Dockyard, Chatham.
The net saving in labour to date is 21 non-industrials and 50 industrials, with a total annual pay bill of about £21,000. There has also been saving by the release of storehouses and stocks of stores at Sheerness. which cannot be easily estimated.
Is my hon. Friend prepared to state that there has been no loss of efficiency in consequence of this change?
It is not a question of loss of efficiency. The change is not yet complete, but we hope that there will be more efficiency when the removal to Chatham is completed.
Retained Men
5.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the hardship and disappointment caused to men now due for release after long service in the Royal Navy by the notification that they have to serve another 18 months, and that this delay will diminish the prospect of suitable civilian employment for many of these men, now 30 years of age; how many men in all are affected; and if he will reexamine the possibility of lessening this delay by a more economical use of existing manpower or by recalling a larger number of Royal Fleet reservists.
I regret the disappointment caused to men due for release by the decision to retain them for a further period. So far 5,250 men are affected, and I am glad to say that the decision has been generally understood and accepted. In an attempt to get the best use of existing manpower, training schedules will be overhauled with a view to speeding them up. As far as it is within the power of His Majesty's Government, posts will be kept open for detained men until they are released. It would not make the general position better to alter the balance between recalled reservists and retained men.
When my hon. Friend says that so far as possible posts will be kept open for these men, does he mean that they may be covered by the new legislation dealing with reinstatement in civil employment?
No, Sir. I was not thinking of that. Many of the men who are retained have no jobs to go back to. These are new posts, and I am thinking of vacancies, for example, in the Fire Service, the Civil Service, the Police Force and local government where we can bring some influence to bear to ensure that posts are kept open.
While I have the deepest sympathy with these men who are retained, may I ask if the hon. Gentleman agrees that this is a complete indictment of his Government's policy over the last few years in failing to take steps to prevent experienced men from leaving the Service, in spite of many warnings from this side of the House?
I am not sure that an inquest will do hon. Members opposite much good. I should have thought that part of the reason for this delay was the suspension of regular recruitment during the war years. It is a consequence of that that there are now experienced men with 10 years' service who are wanted for these jobs.
In his original answer the Parliamentary Secretary said that he proposed to speed up training courses. Will he assure the House that there will be no sacrifice of quality to obtain numbers, as this would be a most serious price to pay?
Yes, we must try to speed up training by breaking down courses into sub-specialisation and by trying to ensure that those who use equipment also maintain it.
Will the hon. Gentleman examine far more closely all the people who have been called up? The people who are hit by far the hardest are those who, after completing a long term of service, are now being called up for a long time and not for 15 days?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that large numbers of men have failed to re-engage? Is that not due to the policy adopted by the Government?
There have been substantial inducements to men to re-engage and come back into the Service, and that is having its effect. As for the other suggestion, it is not the case that large numbers of men have gone out of the Navy. Most of the petty officers we now have are reaching the end of their term of service this year or next year.
When I mentioned the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Bill I was, of course, meaning those probably very few cases where the men have jobs waiting for them. Could my hon. Friend look into that?
Certainly.
Naval Aviation
6.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on what date was the name of the Fleet Air Arm last changed; and by what official designation is it now known.
Use of the term "Fleet Air Arm" was discontinued over four years ago, as flying is an integral part of the activities of the Royal Navy. From time to time, when it is convenient to employ a generic noun, the term "Naval Aviation" is used.
If the use of the term "Fleet Air Arm" was discontinued four years ago, why is it that the First Lord of the Admiralty used it in another place a few weeks ago? Secondly, what was the reason for changing from "Fleet Air Arm" to "Air Branch of the Royal Navy," from "Air Branch of the Royal Navy" to "Naval Air Arm," and from ''Naval Air Arm" to "Naval Aviation"? Would the hon. Gentleman not bring some sense into this and call it by the name by which everyone knows it?
"Fleet Air Arm," during years between the wars, meant the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force. Now there has been an attempt to introduce a term which will not confuse people and which, at the same time, will not seem to show that aviation is something separate from the activities of the Navy as a whole.
If "Naval Aviation" is a valid term, is it not automatically correct that the alternative type of service in the Navy could be equally and as efficiently known as "Naval Seafaring"?
Hospitals (Civilian Assistants)
7.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what progress has now been made towards an increase in salary and improved conditions for pensioner civilian operating room assistants employed in the Royal naval hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
The review of the pay and conditions of this small group of staff has received much attention, but progress has, unfortunately, been slow because of the difficulty of establishing standards of comparison in other fields. We are making every endeavour to bring the matter to a conclusion.
Is it not a fact that only 11 men are concerned, that they are all very highly qualified men with the State registration—or if they have not got it they are asking for it at present—and that negotiations have been going on for four years?
I do not think negotiations have been going on for four years. I agree that the number is small, but that is all the more essential that greater consideration should be given to each application.
Reserve Officers (Bounty)
8.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what bounty will be paid to officers of the Emergency List, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and the Royal Naval Volunteer (Supplementary) Reserve, who are now being called up for 18 months' service.
This matter is under consideration.
Could the Minister say when a decision will be reached?
No, Sir.
In view of the fact that the numbers required are not very large, is it not desirable that the Royal Naval Volunteers should, in fact, be volunteers in this matter? Would it not be better if an inducement were given to that end so that the hon. Gentleman would get the numbers he requires without the necessity of an actual call-up?
The principle is still to be determined, and the other Services, particularly the R.A.F., are concerned in this matter.
Would the Minister give an assurance that if, in fact, a bounty is granted, those who volunteer before its announcement will get it?
I have not said anything which would lead the hon. and gallant Gentleman to believe that a bounty will be granted.
Gr17/44 Aircraft (Changes)
9.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many major changes have been made to the specification for the GR17/44 aircraft since the first staff requirement was issued; and on what date this requirement was issued.
Two, Sir. The requirement was issued in December, 1945.
Could the hon. Member assure me that there has been, and there is now, no intention of altering the seating capacity of this aircraft from two to three, which will radically alter it?
That is one of the two major alterations that has been effected. The number of seats has already been altered from two to three.
Explosives Factory, Holton Heath
10.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what the minimum rate of pay is at the Royal Naval explosives factory at Holton Heath.
The minimum rate of pay for an adult workman at Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, is 103s. a week.
Is the Minister aware that the information I have is that the minimum wage is 90s.?
No. Probably the hon. Member was told before the recent increases were granted.
Are not these rates very low for this valuable and dangerous work? Are they not supplemented by benefits in kind or allowances?
The rates are negotiated in the same way as all other rates for Admiralty employees, and compare favourably with outside interests.
11.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what members of the staff of the Royal Naval explosives factory at Holton Heath are in receipt of danger money.
No member of the staff of the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, is in receipt of danger money.
Then why is it necessary to surround many of the buildings with large mounds of earth?
It is necessary to surround them to save them from damage in the event of an explosion taking place.
If there is danger of an explosion should not the men working in the mound be in receipt of danger money?
In any cordite or ammunition factory there is a risk of danger. On the question of pay, the best way of dealing with these applications for better wages and conditions is through the men's trade unions.
If danger money were offered would it not be much more difficult to get people to work in these places? Is it not also the case that these places are not nearly as dangerous as walking on a London street?
Reserve Fleet
12.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what ships of the Reserve Fleet will be brought forward to active service during 1951.
It is planned to bring forward 60 ships from reserve for service with the active Fleet in 1951: two destroyers: two frigates; three submarines; eight ocean and 22 other minesweepers; two fast minelayers and 21 smaller craft. In addition, one light fleet carrier, one destroyer, one landing ship (headquarters) and three A/S frigates will be brought forward for trials and training.
Would it not be better to complete some of the new ships which have been uncompleted for so long rather than bring old ships back?
That does not arise out of this Question.