§ 14. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the need of owners and workers in British shipyards of detailed knowledge of the procedure to be adopted by them in application to Her Majesty's Government for grants and loans under the legislation relating to the building of fishing vessels; and if he will now issue a detailed statement of that procedure and of the principles which Her Majesty's Government will apply in deciding between British and foreign shipyards in granting or refusing such grants and loans.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. R. Brooman-White)These grants and loans are made by the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board to the owners of the fishing vessels who are fully informed by them of the procedure for making applications. The main considerations are set out in the Schemes governing Grants for Fishing Vessels approved by this House on 16th July last.
An applicant who wishes to build abroad will normally be required, in addition to a foreign tender. to obtain at least three tenders from British yards, all the tenders being based on the same specification. The Authority or Board 359 will not approve grant or loan for an order placed with a foreign shipyard shown to be in receipt of a material element of subsidy.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that that is a very unsatisfactory answer, that the procedure which he indicates does nothing to resolve or alleviate the gravely increasing unemployment in British shipyards and is in contradiction to the many promises made by various Ministers to tackle this problem in a practical way so that during the coming winter there will not be this increasing unemployment?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteThese arrangements are calculated to give British shipyards a full and fair opportunity to tender.
§ Mr. HoyBut surely, in view of the present position in British shipyards, the Under-Secretary is not going to say some preference ought not to be given to British yards over foreign shipyards? Secondly, in view of the fact that the White Fish Authority some eighteen months ago decided that no more grants or loans be granted for this purpose, can the hon. Gentleman say whether that rule has been broken, with a view to placing no orders at all?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteOn the second point, that has not been in my knowledge. On the point of competitive tenders from British yards, experience of the deep water fleet, where there has been no element of grant, over a considerable period of time has shown that British yards have succeeded in getting a considerable proportion of the tenders.