HC Deb 02 May 1961 vol 639 cc1128-30
42. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the responsibilities of the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport in relation to the problems of the mercantile marine and the shipbuilding industry.

The Prime Minister

The new Parliamentary Secretary will assist my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport in all matters concerning shipping and shipbuilding, including ship repairing and marine engineering. He will also assist my right hon. Friend in matters concerning ports.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the Prime Minister aware that those of us who for some time have asked for the appointment of a Minister of Shipping are at any rate satisfied with the appointment of a Joint Parliamentary Secretary in the meantime? Will the Government do everything possible to encourage the new Minister to formulate a constructive policy in order to help the mercantile marine and the shipbuilding industry?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. I am grateful for what the right hon. Gentleman has said, and I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend the new Parliamentary Secretary will be of the greatest value to the Minister in trying to solve some of these very difficult questions.

Dame Irene Ward

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the Joint Parliamentary Secretary will also have access to and will be able to give his advice to the Minister for Housing and Local Government on the rating problems of the shipyards? Will he also have access to the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Is my right hon. Friend aware that I would have much preferred that my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett) had been made Minister of State instead of Joint Parliamentary Secretary?

The Prime Minister

On the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I have no doubt that many hon. Members might feel that. It is always a good thing to upgrade as far as possible, but there is a limit. If everybody became Minister of State we should have to think of some more names. That is all that would happen. As to the second part of the supplementary question, all Ministers have access to each other both socially and officially.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does the Prime Minister realise that if the energies of the new Minister are to be concentrated particularly on the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries, it is to be welcomed, be cause both are in a bad way owing to lack of orders and great unemployment is ensuing? Will the right hon. Gentleman direct or cause the new Minister to institute a special inquiry into the present disasters in the shipbuilding industry which are causing unemployment there?

The Prime Minister

As I have said, my hon. and gallant Friend will assist the Minister with this special part of the work relating to shipping and shipbuilding.