HC Deb 01 February 1966 vol 723 cc878-9
Q2. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the enhanced responsibilities of the Minister of Technology for the introduction and support of science-based technology in the engineering industry, he will now extend his responsibilities to include the shipbuilding industry.

The Prime Minister

I think we should await the Report of the Geddes Committee on the shipbuilding industry before deciding whether any changes in Ministerial responsibility are desirable.

Mrs. Shod

In view of the urgent need to modernise the shipbuilding industry, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the public ownership of this industry under my right hon. Friend would provide a much better solution than there has been formerly and that it would be acceptable to the nation and the unions?

The Prime Minister

I thought my hon. Friend's Question related to sponsorship responsibilities and not to ownership of the industry. I agree with her about the importance of technological advance in this industry. That is why we are waiting for the Report of the Geddes Committee.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Prime Minister take the opportunity of clarifying the responsibilities for the shipbuilding industry as they now exist? The Admiralty has some responsibility, so has the Board of Trade, but the recent proposal for Fair-fields seemed to emananate entirely from the Department of Economic Affairs. Will the right hon. Gentleman clear this up?

The Prime Minister

Responsibility for the shipbuilding industry is with the Board of Trade. The Admiralty has responsibility only as far as naval shipbuilding is concerned, particularly within its own dockyards. The question of the Fairfields decision, which I had hoped was welcomed by the whole House, arose out of the very serious regional problems—for which the Board of Trade is responsible—with the threat of the overnight closure of a major shipyard.

Mr. Hogg

While fully accepting the necessity to await the Report of the Geddes Committee on this question, may I ask the Prime Minister to undertake that the Minister—whoever he is—responsible for this industry shall be wholeheartily in favour of the Government's incomes and prices policy?

The Prime Minister

We are still awaiting a declaration by the Opposition on prices and incomes. I therefore think it does not lie in the mouth of the right hon. and learned Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg) to bring in the question of incomes policy to the question of the shipbuilding industry.