HC Deb 12 March 1952 vol 497 cc1377-8
38. Mr. R. Ewart

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will direct additional steel supplies to the Sunderland shipyards in view of unemployment arising there due to steel shortage.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Wingfield Digby)

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 5th March to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. F. Willey). I am advised that the steel shortage is not causing unemployment in the Sunderland shipyards.

Mr. Ewart

Is the hon. Member aware that the figures given yesterday by the Minister of Labour about the unemployment position in Sunderland constitute a denial of the statement he has just made? Will he take steps to see that steel is supplied to the shipbuilding industry to obviate the continuance of unemployment existing there, or is the present policy of the Government to revert to the distressed area conditions that obtained under Tory administration before the war?

Mr. Digby

I have made careful inquiries and I think that the hon. Member will find it is not due to the shortage of steel.

43. Mr. Frederick Willey

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how the allocation of steel for shipbuilding for the current quarter compares with the previous allocation.

Mr. Digby

The level of allocation of steel for shipbuilding, shiprepairing and marine engineering for the period 4th February to 31st March, 1952, is slightly less than the allocation for the first quarter of 1950, the last full quarter for which allocations were previously made.

Mr. Willey

Does not the hon. Gentleman appreciate that the shipbuilding industry is a highly competitive industry in highly competitive world markets, and that the only way the British yards can compete with foreign yards is through speedy output, and that at the moment they are seriously prejudiced and will be prejudiced in those world markets?

Mr. Digby

Certainly the importance of this industry is fully appreciated and its needs for steel receive most sympathetic consideration.

Mr. Ewart

As the hon. Member has stated that there is a reduction in steel allocation, will he now tell me what the unemployment is due to, having said in a previous answer that it is not due to the reduced allocation of steel?

Mr. Digby

The hon. Member will be aware that there are other factors in the shipbuilding industry besides the steel shortage, and if he will make inquiries I think he will find that they are the reason for the unemployment.

Mr. Ewart

Will the hon. Member state one other factor responsible for this rise in unemployment?

Mr. Digby

The hon. Member will be aware, for instance, that far more tankers are being produced than was the case, which tends to lead to unbalance as between the finishing trade and others, and there is always a seasonal fluctuation in employment in the shipbuilding industry.