HC Deb 05 July 1966 vol 731 cc225-7
6 and 7. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what reorganisation of his Department he is making to deal with the transfer to it of responsibility for the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries;

(2) what steps he is taking to recruit to his Department staff with special knowledge of shipbuilding and ship-repairing.

The Minister of Technology (Mr. Anthony Wedgwood Benn)

My Department is working out, in consultation with the Board of Trade, the detailed arrangements for the transfer of responsibility for the shipbuilding industry, but it is too soon to say what reorganisation or additional staff will be necessary.

Mr. Digby

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the importance of continuity in this vital industry, particularly just after the recommendations of the Geddes Report? Is he further aware that frequent changes of responsibility from one Ministry to another are undesirable and that he will have to do a lot to counterbalance it?

Mr. Benn

I am sure that the Government are well aware of this. Appropriate staff will be moving with their related departments. One of the reasons the process is being taken at this pace is to avoid interruption of the work on Plowden and Geddes.

Mr. Rankin

Will my right hon. Friend or either of his Parliamentary Secretaries be making contact with the shipbuilding interests?

Mr. Benn

Of course. In this case, the Board of Trade is in touch with the shipbuilding interests and the staff coming to my Department is already in contact with them.

Mr. David Price

May I take this opportunity to congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his new appointment? Will the Government announce their decision on the Geddes Report before responsibility for shipbuilding is moved from the Board of Trade to the Ministry of Technology, or will it fall to the right hon. Gentleman to present the Government's reactions to the Geddes proposals?

Mr. Benn

The first work on the Geddes Report is being done by the Board of Trade. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that we shall be involved in any decisions.

Dame Irene Ward

Will the Ministry of Technology and the Board of Trade be in direct consultation at all stages with the shipbuilding community, since it had no knowledge or consultation before the transfer of these departments was arranged, which is very unsatisfactory from the point of view of the industry?

Mr. Benn

While I appreciate that point, this is a matter of the machinery of Government and of organisation. It was proper for the Government to take this decision, but there will be no lack of contact.

17. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Minister of Technology what administrative arrangements he has made at the present time for dealing with research, development and construction in the shipbuilding industry; what additional arrangements he proposes in the near future; and what discussions he has had with the industry with a view to determining the nature of this machinery.

Mr. Benn

The Board of Trade takes the lead in discussions with the industry on ways in which the Government might help. The Ministry of Technology is now to be associated with those discussions. Arrangements already exist in my Department for reviewing with the industry its research needs.

Mr. Osborn

Has the right hon. Gentleman actually had meetings already with the shipbuilding industry in connection with construction as distinct from research?

Mr. Benn

I have not myself personally, but if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question about this, I will report what has been done.