§ 4. Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to improve the co-ordination between the 31 Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Security on matters affecting the British Shipping Federation and the National Maritime Board.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Departments already consult closely on these matters, Sir, and no new steps are needed.
§ Mr. LloydIs it not quite intolerable that both sides of this major industry should have been kept waiting for 10 months while the Government made up their mind; that they should then have been informed that the industry would be receiving no assistance and should be given seven weeks in which to find a current expenditure running at the rate of£500,000 per annum?
§ The Prime MinisterHon. Gentlemen opposite are always pressing us to increase Government expenditure. In our view, the right place for the cost of training is in the industry concerned. Unemployment benefit has been withdrawn this month. We feel it is right that the industry should bear the cost of industrial training since it gets the benefit of it. My right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State is currently discussing these issues with both sides of the industry. She has a meeting this afternoon, and we had better wait until she is able to report further on her discussions.