§ 14. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade how many mercantile ships are building in British shipyards and the aggregate tonnage; what was the number of ships built and the tonnage in 1920 and 1930; and what action he intends to take to bring about a revival in the shipbuilding and allied industries?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANOn the 31st March, 1934, there were under construction in the United Kingdom 107 vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards, their total tonnage being 481,440 tons gross. The corresponding figures for 31st March, 1920, were 618 vessels of 2,055,624 tons gross, and for 31st March, 1930, 481 vessels of 1,478,563 tons gross. The position in the shipbuilding and allied industries is dependent, of course, on the position in the shipping industry, and on the orders given by shipping firms and companies for new vessels.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODThe President of the Board of Trade has not replied to the last part of my question:
What action he intends to take to bring about a revival in the shipbuilding and allied industries.I want to ask him what reply he has to make to that?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe shortest reply is that we hope to stimulate the placing of orders by shipping firms and companies.