HC Deb 08 July 1963 vol 680 cc862-3
41. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Labour how many shipyard workers were employed in Govan in 1953 and in 1963.

Mr. Whitelaw

There were 9,333 in May, 1953, and 5,581 in May, 1963.

Mr. Rankin

Do not those figures awaken the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend, and the Government, from the sleep in which they have been indulging? Can the hon. Gentleman say what is being done to try to do something for the tremendous number of persons who have been thrown out of work as the result of the decline of the shipbuilding industry in Govan?

Mr. Whitelaw

The hon. Gentleman is very well aware of the £30 million scheme to help ship owners recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport to finance new orders. To that, there has been an encouraging response—

Mr. Rankin rose

—

Mr. Whitelaw

—and the hon. Gentle-had better remain in his place, because I have more to say. The industry must do all in its power to make itself competitive with foreign shipyards. My right hon. Friend has established a joint working party to work out practical proposals for improving the industry's relations and competitive ability. This working party is making progress though, my right hon. Friend must say, not as rapidly as the urgency of the situation demands.

Mr. Rankin

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the £30 million scheme was only announced about a month ago, and that it has taken nearly ten years to accumulate those 4,000 unemployed in Govan? What was he doing before the £30 million scheme was introduced?

Mr. Whitelaw

Much consideration has been given to improving the position of the shipyards, but the hon. Gentleman will be the first to appreciate that this is a worldwide problem of supply and demand.