§ 2. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that there is danger of a fall in British ship construction in 1954, as compared with 1953, and as compared with foreign shipyard construction; and what steps he is taking to maintain and extend the British shipbuilding industry at and beyond its present standards
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasIt seems at present improbable that the output of merchant shipping from British shipyards in 1954 should fall below the 1953 level. All possible steps are being taken to increase the supply of steel plate to the shipyards, and the output in 1954 should therefore be greater than in 1953. It would be premature to attempt a comparison between British and foreign shipyard output in 1954.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that Lloyds, the Shipbuilding Conference and other great authorities are complaining eloquently about the dearth of forthcoming orders and expressing the fear that there may be great unemployment in the shipyards unless something is done? What are the Government doing to forestall that?
§ Mr. ThomasI do not wish the hon. and learned Member to think for a moment that I or the Admiralty are complacent about the future of the shipbuilding industry, but I have told him that I hope for better results in 1954 than those of 1953. That was the Question which he asked. I trust that something near one-and-a-half million gross tons will be completed during 1954 if the steel plate supplies come along all right, and we are doing our very best to see that they do.
§ Sir L. RopnerCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will be better deliveries of steel plates during this year?
§ Mr. ThomasThat is not under my control. There is reason to believe that there will be.
§ Mr. HobsonHas there been any evidence of cancellation of shipbuilding orders because of the shortage of steel plates and the delivery dates?
§ Mr. ThomasYes, there have been a few cancellations for that reason, but I very much hope that the position will improve.