HC Deb 25 January 1961 vol 633 cc168-9
36. Mr. P. Williams

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has studied the report sent to him by the General Council of British Shipping regarding British shipping policy; and what reply he has made.

57. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Transport if he has concluded his examination of the proposals sent to him by the Chamber of Shipping regarding British shipping policy; and what reply he has made.

Mr. Hay

My right hon. Friend is studying the report. He will consider it with his colleagues and discuss it with the General Council.

Mr. Williams

If his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is carrying his burden with such élan, can my hon. Friend tell me what his right hon. Friend has managed to achieve in the matter of flag discrimination and the advancement of this policy by the American Government?

Mr. Hay

That does not appear to arise out of the Question on the Order Paper.

Mr. Shinwell

But is not that the crux of the problem that affects our shipping industry at the present time? What do the Government intend to do about it? Are they merely to look at this report and then have meetings and then tell us that there are difficulties which stand in the way of coming to a decision? And what is to happen to the shipping industry in the meantime?

Mr. Hay

The first job we had to do was to find out the facts of the matter and get the views of the industry. That we have now done, and the way is now open for us to reconsider our whole policy on the subject and announce our proposals to Parliament in due course.

Dame Irene Ward

Will my hon. Friend ask his right hon. Friend to bear in mind that he has always said: "If the shipping industry will tell me, the Minister, what it wants, I will be able to act"? Am I to understand that now he has received information of what the industry wants he will carry out that pledge?

Mr. Hay

That would be the implication.

Mr. McMaster

Is the Minister aware that unless the Government soon adopt a constructive policy aimed at assisting shipping and shipbuilding there will be very heavy unemployment and a consequent loss to the economy and to our export trade, both visible and invisible?

Mr. Hay

We are in no doubt whatever as to the importance to our economy of the shipping and shipbuilding industries.

Mr. Callaghan

May I ask the Minister whether, in considering the general shipping problem, it is also intended to produce a policy for coastwise shipping, where the tonnage has fallen off by one-third in the last four years? Can we expect to have an early statement of Government policy on that section of the industry?

Mr. Hay

The problem of coastwise sipping is, as the hon. Gentleman says, indeed difficult, and a most important section of the General Council's document is devoted to it. We are giving as much consideration to that part as we are to the remainder.