Coastal Shipping (Hansard, 7 March 1962)

§ 20. Dame Irene Ward
asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what priority in naval preparedness he attaches to the maintenance of coastal shipping.

§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing
A certain amount of coastal shipping would, of course, be required on defence grounds in the event of global war, but it is not my noble Friend's task to allot a priority to the maintenance of coastal shipping.

§ Dame Irene Ward
No, but, having regard to that Answer, will my hon. Friend kindly convey to the Minister of Transport that coastal shipping is not only a matter as between coastal shipping and the railways, and will he please take a hammer and a nail and drive into his right hon. Friend's head that coastal shipping is also part of our defence programme?

§ Mr. Speaker
It is out of order even to urge persuasion of a milder kind.

§ Dame Irene Ward
Will it not be in order, Mr. Speaker, if I put my question, leaving out the hammer and the nail?

§ Mr. Speaker
I do not remember what there was apart from something being done to the other right hon. Gentleman.

§ Dame Irene Ward
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wish my hon. Friend just to convey to his right hon. Friend that coastal shipping is part of our defence programme and that coastal shipping is not only a matter for discussion between coastal shipping interests and the railways, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport seems to think.

§ Mr. Speaker
It is not the Minister's duty to convey messages to another one. Perhaps the hon. Lady will be content with having asked her question.

§ Mr. P. Williams
My hon. Friend the Civil Lord says that a certain amount of coastal snipping is necessary. Can he be a little more specific? Is there a minimum tonnage requirement for defence needs? Further, will he please note the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward), that if coastal shipping continues to decline at the present rate, this will not only be a tragedy economically for Britain, whether we enter the Common Market or not, but also will undermine our position in terms of war and survival?

§ Dame Irene Ward
Hear, hear.

§ Mr. Orr-Ewing
My noble Friend is well aware, of course, that coastal shipping would play an important part should a major European war be upon us. We, therefore, do look at its level, although it is not in any way our responsibility. I can say that at present it more than meets the possible need.

§ Dame Irene Ward
It must be maintained.