§ 1. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now remove the restrictions on the sale of second-hand British ships to foreign countries.
§ The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)No, Sir. A wide measure of freedom is allowed to shipowners to sell their ships abroad, but, for reasons of security and national defence, I cannot abolish all restrictions on the transfer of ships to overseas buyers.
§ Mr. ErrollI wonder if my right hon. Friend would nevertheless look at the present restrictions to see if they could be relaxed further?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI do constantly, andI have discussions with the Chamber of Shipping from time to time. I am satisfied that at the moment they are not a serious hindrance to shipping industry but are a national value.
§ Mr. AwberyThe sale of these obsolete ships to countries not conforming to the 1144 international code is creating serious competition between them and ourselves, so will the right hon. Gentleman lay down conditions that obsolete ships sold shall be broken up? Or will he confine their sale to those countries conforming to the regulations?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat shows a further reason why there should be some ultimate control in the Minister's hands. If the hon. Gentleman cares to talk to me afterwards, I will give him details about the relatively few ships that have been transferred in recent years.
§ Sir L. RopnerIs my right hon. Friend aware that the view implied by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery) is not shared by any section of the Mercantile Marine, including the trade unions?