§ 18. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will institute an inquiry into the operations of National Shipbuilders' Securities, Limited, its methods of working, and the governing factors which weigh with them in deciding the closing down of shipyards; and what are the districts in which these yards are situated?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19th June to the hon. Member for Jarrow. No complete list of the shipyards acquired by the company has been published, but I understand that of shipyards comprising 684 berths existing in January, 1930, the company has acquired for disposal 137 berths.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs not the President of the Board of Trade aware of the intense feeling that exists in various districts where yards have been closed down, and can he not see his way to institute an inquiry into the methods of operation of this particular company, as they are causing much unemployment by the closing down of yards?
§ Mr. PEARSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that nine shipyards have been closed on the Tyne?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI believe that is so.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer my supplementary question?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere is no further information that I can give that is not already known.