§ 55. Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the number of British ships sent to foreign shipyards for repairs; and whether he will consider the advisability of making representations in British shipowners urging the need for repairs to be done in British ports, in view of the high percentage of unemployed boilermakers and ship-repairers?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Hore-Belisha)As the hon. Member for Tyne-mouth (Mr. West Russell) was informed on the 23rd February, the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second part, British shipowners are, I am sure, fully alive to the desirability, wherever this may be economically possible, of having their repair work done at home, and I understand that in recent months the tendency to have ship repairs carried out here has increased to a marked extent.
§ Mr. DICKIEWith a view to seeing whether it is possible to assist this very hard hit industry, will the Parliamentary Secretary institute inquiries in two directions, firstly, as to the extent to which foreign countries compel their shipowners to have their repairs executed in the yards of their own nationals, and, secondly, as to the extent—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member's question is too long.
§ Mr. DICKIESurely, Mr. Speaker, it is a fair question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is much too long as a supplementary.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the tendency of British ships being sent to foreign ports to be repaired is on the upgrade or the downgrade?
§ Mr. DICKIEWill the Parliamentary Secretary inquire to what extent it would help this hard hit industry if trade union restrictions in regard to overtime were removed?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI will certainly obtain for my hon. Friend any information which he may desire and which may be in our possession. In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood), the tendency to have ships repaired abroad is diminishing.