HC Deb 17 December 1964 vol 704 c554
18. Mr. Buchan

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is considering towards improving research and development facilities within the shipbuilding industry.

The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Roy Mason)

This is one of the matters that I shall be examining in my survey of the problems of the industry, and which the committee of inquiry will be expected to consider.

Mr. Buchan

Will the committee take into account the dangerously small amount of money devoted to shipbuilding research as compared with other industries and the fact that an undue proportion is spent on steam turbine research instead of other forms of propulsion, for instance, diesel? Will it also investigate the consequences of the fact that Japan produces about six times as many naval graduate architects as we do?

Mr. Mason

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for his comments. Perhaps the committee will also look at the subject of research into diesel engine manufacture and the use of turbines.