asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what number of workpeople of all grades are at present employed on the work of the new battleship on the Tyne?

The total number of workpeople employed on the vessel in question is 109. The number is affected by the lock-out of the members of the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders, as work on the steel structure of the ship is in consequence at a standstill.

Mr. DOYLE:

Does not the very small number employed now compare very unfavourably with the number employed a week or a fortnight ago?

I am not sure that I can answer that question. Of the number of 109 mentioned, 55 were engaged on machinery at Wallsend and 54 at Armstrong's, probably in the drawing office. The ship has now arrived at a stage where a great number of men could be employed if there were no labour problem.