§ 28. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for placing further orders for shipbuilding.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the Secretary of State aware of the heavy and long-continued unemployment in the shipbuilding industry of Scotland? Is he aware of the dire plight of some of our smaller shipyards? Could he not now bring forward a programme of the future needs contained in the Highlands and Islands Shipping Act, which gives him power to build or charter ships, and do something to help to alleviate the very depressing situation now being suffered by thousands of shipbuilding workers and their families?
§ Mr. NobleI have just placed an order for three new ships for MacBrayne's. 1300 Until we see how these operate it would he a mistake to try to order some more.
§ Mr. ManuelThey will operate all right.
§ Mr. NobleI hope the hon. Gentleman is right. I would not have placed the order if I disagreed with him.
§ Mr. GrimondWould not this be a most appropriate moment to place the order for the second ship due for the Orkney Island service?
§ Mr. NobleThe problem is that the company concerned wants to experiment with a hydrofoil ship and it is going to do so this summer. I think we should wait to see how that experiment goes.
§ Mr. RankinIn addition to the things the right hon. Gentleman is doing, will he give us an assurance that in order to help general shipbuilding in Scotland he will give full support to the proposal that we should accept part-payment in oil from Russia in response to shipbuilding orders, to be placed on the Clyde if successful?