asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of contracts for the conversion of fleet destroyers into fast anti-submarine frigates.

Discussions are proceeding between the Admiralty and the Ship Repairers' Central Council on the relatively high costs of conversions by contract compared with the cost of similar work carried out in Her Majesty's dockyards. I may add that the work carried out on these vessels, whether by contract or in the Royal dockyards, is restricted to the absolute minimum to meet essential requirements.