§ 7. Mr. Willeyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the increase in the yearly rate of output of British shipyards during the years 1955–58, inclusive.
§ Mr. T. G. D. GalbraithOutput of new merchant ships from United Kingdom shipyards, both in terms of launchings and completions, has remained fairly stable over the last four years at around 1.4 million gross tons.
§ Mr. WilleyWould not the Civil Lord agree that these figures are disappointing, in view of the fact that world output of shipbuilding has practically doubled in this time? Will he do his best to persuade the Government to promote an international discussion on the question of world capacity in relation to shipbuilding?
§ Mr. GalbraithCertainly I will think about the question of an international discussion. As the hon. Gentleman knows, throughout the whole of this period a lot of modernisation has been going on, and that has prevented any sharp increase in output, though the demand for ships a few years ago was very high.
§ Sir P. AgnewWhat responsibility has my hon. Friend's Department for the output of British merchant ships in British yards?
§ Mr. GalbraithThe Admiralty is what is called the "sponsoring" Department for the shipbuilding industry. We have obviously no responsibility for output, but we are the sponsoring Department and have a responsibility for trying to 426 help to provide information about the shipbuilding industry.