§ 20. Sir J. Vaughan-Morganasked the Minister of Transport why he will not take into account the degree of unemployment in an area when authorising the placing with a particular shipyard of the contract for the new Cunarder.
§ Mr. MarplesGovernment assistance has been limited to the minimum required to enable the Cunard Steam-Ship Company to order a ship which will be competitive in this highly subsidised trade. The ship will have to pay her way and I would not be justified in asking the company to accept any other than the best tender.
§ Sir J. Vaughan-MorganHas my right hon. Friend any ideas for giving a shot in the arm to other areas which are unsuccessful in obtaining this tender?
§ Mr. MarplesThat is another Question altogether.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsWill my right hon. Friend think about adopting this suggestion? Will he think particularly of those areas which face high unemployment in shipbuilding and have no alternative engineering employment for men unemployed?
§ Mr. MarplesIf there is nothing between the best tenders, which is unlikely to happen in practice, preference is given to a firm in a development district listed under the Local Employment Act, 1960, or to a firm in Northern Ireland. All the areas which have been invited to tender are in such districts, except Swan Hunter and Vickers.
§ Mr. ShortWill the Minister bear in mind that there is considerable insecurity, short-time working, and so on, in shipbuilding and ship-repairing on the Tyne? Will he confirm that the contract will be placed on purely commercial consideration?
§ Mr. MarplesThat is what I have said.
41. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Transport what area per passenger has been provided for in the specification sent out in connection with tenders for the new Cunarder.
§ Mr. MarplesThis is a matter for the Cunard Steam-ship Company, but I am informed that it has provided for an average of about 80 square feet of cabin space per passenger.
§ Mr. MarplesI do not think so. The Cunard Company had many factors to take into account, and if it had made the area very much smaller it would not have attracted the type of passenger who would pay the fare it wishes him to pay.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhat accommodation will be provided for the crew? Has the right hon. Gentleman ever inspected some of the crew space in any of these large liners?
§ Mr. MarplesIf the right hon. Gentleman will put a Question down, I will tell him exactly what the space is. I have inspected the crew quarters on both the "Queen Mary" and the "Queen Elizabeth".