HC Deb 10 March 1954 vol 524 cc2207-8
1. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what orders to, or requests to place orders with, British firms or shipyards by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have been received; how many, and what kinds of ships are concerned; whether the orders, or requests to place orders, have yet been accepted; and by which firms, in Scotland and England, respectively.

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. J. P. L. Thomas)

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Civil Lord gave to him last Wednesday.

Mr. Hughes

Will the First Lord say upon what principle these allocations are made, and why so few are made to Aberdeen?

Mr. Thomas

Is not that a supplementary question which should be asked on Question No. 2?

Mr. Hughes

I have asked a supplementary question to Question No. 1.

Mr. Thomas

There is no question of allocation at the moment. Orders have first to be placed with the firms before the Admiralty is asked to give a licence. The only one actually placed is the order at Lowestoft for 20 trawlers. The matter of placing orders in individual yards is one for the enterprise of the firms concerned.

Mr. Hughes

I beg the right hon. Gentleman's pardon. I made a mistake about the Question.

3. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the rate at which orders were placed with British shipbuilding yards in 1953 is below the annual replacement figures for preceding years; that this threatens losses to British shipbuilding and unemployment; and what are his present and future plans to avoid these losses.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

As my hon. Friend the Civil Lord informed the House yesterday, the present situation in the shipbuilding industry is that, while there was a marked decline in new orders for merchant ships last year, the accumulation of orders over the previous three years represents broadly work for the next two or three years, though some of the smaller yards will shortly need further orders to keep their building berths fully occupied. There is therefore, no immediate risk of serious unemployment in the industry; in fact total employment increased in 1953, but the situation will continue to be carefully watched, and needs watching.

Mr. Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the various authorities in the shipbuilding industry have expressed fears at the paucity of the orders which are coming in for next year? Would not it be better if the Government adopted a more forthcoming policy with regard to foreign orders, to prevent them going to European shipbuilding yards instead of to British yards?

Mr. Thomas

I assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that we certainly do adopt a forthcoming attitude towards foreign nations, including Soviet Russia. I am watching very carefully the position as it affects the small yards. With regard to the shipbuilding position in general, I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the speech of his right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) either yesterday or today—I forget which.