39. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of naval contracts placed by the Government in 1967; what percentage of this total was placed in Scottish shipyards; and what were the comparable totals and percentages in 1962 and 1957.
§ Mr. MasonThe total value of naval contracts placed by the Government with shipyards in the United Kingdom in 1967 was £46 million of which 14 per cent. was awarded to Scottish yards; the corresponding figures for 1962 were £33 412 million and 39 per cent., and for 1957, £45 million and 14 per cent.
Mr. TaylorWill the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that he will maintain a high level of activity of naval building on Clydeside, in view of the serious order position on Upper Clydeside? Can he say anything about export orders for naval ships for foreign countries, in particular the Argentine contract which is pending?
§ Mr. MasonI can say nothing on the last point. On the first, the Scottish yards are getting a fair share of the United Kingdom naval contracts. Indeed, if we take out the nuclear contracts, which seem to give Scotland a very low percentage, they have had an average 38 per cent. of all naval contracts other than nuclear over the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Hector HughesWhy are all these contracts concentrated on South-West Scotland and lost to North-East Scotland, when Aberdeen has very good shipyards?
§ Mr. MasonI only hope that my hon. and learned Friend can encourage his yards to be as competitive as those others.