Policy (Hansard, 4 July 1962)

§ 30. Mr. Rankin
asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement on Great Britain's future shipbuilding policy, following the Cunard Steamship Company's recent merger.

§ Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
The policy of the Government towards the shipbuilding industry is not affected by the link between Cunard and B.O.A.C.

§ Mr. Rankin
Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman still accept Cunard as a reliable instrument for carrying out the policy which was embodied in the Bill that became an Act a year ago? Is he aware that in stating Cunard's attitude to the building of the replacement for the "Queen Mary", Sir John Brocklebank, last Wednesday, stated that it would be foolish at this juncture to embark on the building of a capital ship. If he regards the Government's policy as foolish, how can the Government expect him to carry it out?

§ Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
I can only say that we have kept in close touch with the Cunard Company during these months, and, so far as I am aware, there is no direct connection in the mind of the company between this link with B.O.A.C. and the decision about a new liner. After all, the company's decision to buy aeroplanes, which was the principal investment that it had in the new link, had been made before we were discussing the Bill last year.

§ Mr. Rankin
Of course there is a connection. It was my way of bringing it up. Does not the hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that the position of Cunard is now somewhat unstable in the estimation of a great many people, and that that was the reason for the merger? In view of that, does he consider Cunard to be a reliable instrument for giving effect to Government policy?

§ Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
I de not propose to comment on the Cunard Company's reliability. I would point 529 out that, although there is an obvious connection between the development of air travel, on the one hand, and the wisdom of investing a lot of money in a new passenger liner, on the other, I do not consider there is any main connection between this particular agreement and the case of a possible Q.3.