§ 42. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Technology what consideration the Shipbuilding Industry Board has given to the proposed informal agréement between Japanese and Western European shipbuilders for the distribution of future orders; and what advice it is giving to the British industry.
§ Mr. FowlerI understand that the Shipbuilding Industry Board has neither 707 been asked for nor has given any advice to British shipbuilders on this subject.
§ Mr. DigbyWould the Joint Parliamentary Secretary advise the Shipbuilding Industry Board to have nothing to do with any such proposal in view of the increased competitiveness of the British shipbuilding industry?
§ Mr. FowlerI am quite sure that the British Shipbuilding Industry Board is capable of making up its own mind on such proposals. I would agree with the hon. Gentleman that the increased competitiveness of the British industry, and in particular the creation of facilities for building very large tankers which this Government have sponsored, should mean that we can compete on equal terms with the Japanese in future.