§ 18. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Transport what was the total Exchequer assistance to the shipbuilding and marine engineering industry during the last financial year; and what was the total Government subsidy to ports and harbours.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Vice-Admiral John Hughes Hallett)The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research gave grants totalling £130,000 to the research associations of the shipbuilding and marine engineering industries. It also spent £285,000 on the Ship Division of the National Physical Laboratory. The Board of Trade made loans of £649,500 under the Local Employment Act, for projects connected with shipbuilding and ship repairing.
Expenditure by Government Departments on ports and harbours, covering storm repairs and grants under the Fisheries Act was £262,000.
§ Mr. DigbyWhile I take this opportunity of welcoming the new research organisation which has been set up, may I ask whether these amounts are not small compared with what is being given to the aircraft industry? In view of the recession in shipping and shipbuilding and in view of the advent of new methods of propulsion, is there not a strong case for a little more money from the Government for shipping research?
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettWe, too, welcome the decision to amalgamate B.S.R.A. and PAMETRADA. As for the future, I remind my hon. Friend of the statement which my right hon. Friend made concerning the vigorous research programme which is to be undertaken in connection with nuclear propulsion, which will involve the expenditure of far larger sums of money.