§ 38. Mr. P. Williamsasked the Minister of Transport whether he will list the British shipbuilding companies presently engaged in developing ships of hydrofoil construction.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettI do not know of any British shipbuilder who is developing hydrofoil craft at the present time.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs not this a tragedy? Is it not a possible line of naval architectural development which should be considered by the British shipbuilding industry? Are there no Government agencies which can spur on development in this field?
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettI would not agree that it is a tragedy. As to the possible development for naval use, that is entirely a matter for the 1157 Board of Admiralty. As to the development of experiments for commercial purposes, that is really a matter for my noble Friend the Minister for Science in the first instance.
§ Mr. WilliamsIt is not really a question of everything being someone else's responsibility. My hon. and gallant Friend is responsible for shipbuilding matters, and this implies naval and commercial practice. Surely some attention should be paid to this in his Department?
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettI should not like my hon. Friend to think that no attention is being paid to it, but, so far as my responsibilities are concerned, it is certainly no part of our task to finance initial research and development of this nature. That comes under quite different agencies.