asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what Admiralty contracts for warship repairs have been placed this year with Hull ship-repairing firms; what is their cost; and whether, in view of the unemployment among local ship-repair workers, he will consider placing further contracts with Hull firms.

Repairs to two warships have been undertaken during the present calendar year by ship-repairing firms in Hull, at a total cost of about £48,000. The claims of Hull will continue to be taken into consideration, along with those of other ship-repairing areas, when any further work of this kind is available.

As Hull has no building facilities, and employment is entirely dependent on repair work, will the Civil Lord consider further contracts for Hull firms when possible?

I have just stated that Hull will be taken into consideration together with other ship-repairing areas.

Will the Civil Lord remember that Hull is not the only ship-repairing area, and should not the main consideration be one of price?

I am quite aware of the fact that Hull is not the only such area.