§ 50. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what inquiries he has made about the possibilities of one of the proposed new Cunard liners being built on the River Tyne; and whether he will ensure that shipbuilding companies on the River Tyne have an opportunity to tender and that such quotations shall have reasonable consideration in accordance with price.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) and the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) on 21st April.
§ Mr. McKayAs I did not see that reply, will the Minister answer this questions? If a subsidy is to be given, in view of the fact that it will be public money will the Minister give the House a guarantee that all shipbuilders will have an opportunity of quoting for the ships?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIf the hon. Member will look at the Answer which I gave, he will see that I said quite clearly that the Government are in no way committed to this proposition until we have further advice from the Cunard Company, which we are awaiting.
§ Mr. ShortWhen these orders are given will the Minister bear in mind that on the River Tyne there is 6.1 per cent. unemployment in shipbuilding and ship repairing, which is higher than in any other ship-repairing area? Will he bear in mind that we have two shipyards which could build these ships and that when the transatlantic liners were required in 1907, one was built on the Clyde and one was built on the Tyne? Will he bear this in mind when these orders are allocated?