§ 13. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the total berths available in Great Britain for the building of naval and merchant ships are now occupied by naval and by merchant ships, respectively, in construction; and what is the estimated proportion of berths suitable for merchant shipbuilding which will be idle by the summer of 1939?
§ Mr. StanleyOf the berths available for the building of naval vessels and seagoing merchant vessels, about 18 per cent. are now occupied by naval vessels and 32 per cent. by merchant vessels. I am not able to venture an estimate of the position in the middle of next year.
Mr. StewartDoes not my right hon. Friend see that, according to the present tendency, it would appear that by the summer of next year only about one-quarter of the berths of the country suitable for merchant shipping are likely to be occupied?
§ Mr. StanleyI said I was unable to give an estimate for obvious reasons, but I appreciate the position.