HC Deb 25 July 1935 vol 304 cc2006-8
48 and 49. Mr. DICKIE

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the districts in which merchant vessels are being constructed or modernised under the terms of the British Shipping Assistance Act, Part II; and the number and tonnage under construction in each area?

(2) the total number of applications received to date for financial assistance under Part II of the British Shipping Assistance Act, and the total gross register tonnage involved and its value; the number of such applications granted, the number sanctioned on which work had begun, the number sanctioned on which work had not yet commenced, with the tonnages in each case, the number of applications rejected, with the number of applications now under consideration by the Government; and the number of vessels with their respective tonnages now being constructed or modernised under the terms of the Act?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)

The total number of applications received under Part II of the British Shipping (Assistance) Act is 28, covering 43 vessels aggregating approximately 158,000 tons gross, of an approximate value of £2,600,000. Ten of these applications, covering the building of 13 vessels totalling approximately 63,300 tons, have been approved. The shipowners concerned are now making their arrangements with shipbuilders for the construction of these vessels, but I have no information as to the number on which work has actually begun. The total number of applications rejected is 10, and the number still under consideration is eight. Eight of the 13 new vessels are to be constructed on the North-East Coast. The builders of the remaining five have not yet been selected.

Mr. DICKIE

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his extremely valuable information, may I ask whether the experience of the last six months indicates that in his judgment the scheme is quite satisfactory and does not require any amendment in order to achieve the results for which we had all hoped?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

So far as it has gone, it has been productive, but of course, we cannot in this kind of business expect results immediately.

Mr. CHORLTON

Have models of all the ships concerned been tank tested?

51. Mr. KIRKWOOD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that contracts under the Government's £10,000,000 scrap-and-build plan have been placed on the North-East Coast, whereas no such contracts have been placed upon the Clyde; and, in view of the fact that public money is involved, will he take steps to hasten the placing of orders for the Clyde and thus remove the discrimination that at present exists between the shipbuilders in these two areas?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 3 of the White Paper (Cmd. 4647), issued a year ago, which indicated that a shipowner would be free to select the firm to carry out the work of building or modernising anywhere in Great Britain. I am not prepared to alter this provision of the scheme.

Mr. LOGAN

In view of the fact that eight vessels are being built on the North-East Coast, and £10,000,000 is being spent, and in view of the condition of Merseyside and other ports, is it not possible to spread these orders better?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The selection of the North-East Coast shipyards was a selection made by the shipowners themselves, not by the Government.

Mr. LOGAN

But my point is that, in view of the depression and the applications that are being made from depressed areas, is it not possible to make recommendations to get this money scattered?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

It is possible for me to give advice to the shipowners, but they need not take it.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a feeling abroad in Scotland that the interests of Scotland are not so well looked after in the Cabinet as, say, those of the Tyne and Birmingham, and what does he propose to do about it?

Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE

Is it not a fact that a quite disproportionate amount of work has gone to the Clyde in comparison with the Tyne, and will my right hon. Friend strike a balance as far as he can in giving these orders in the future?

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the fact that no orders have been placed either on the Clyde, or on the Mersey, or on the Bristol Channel, and that the only place where they have been placed is the North-East Coast?

Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

Nonsense.