HC Deb 27 March 1969 vol 780 cc1790-1
Q3. Mr. Brooks

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to the shipbuilding yards of Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.

Mr. M. Stewart

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

Mr. Brooks

In view of all the adverse criticism that has recently been heaped on Merseyside, does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is worth noting that this major shipyard has an excellent record in recent years both in industrial relations and in competitive tendering? Before irrevocable decisions are taken which might end this centre of excellence in nuclear engineering, does not my right hon. Friend agree that an urgent appraisal is needed to give it scope for building nuclear merchant ships?

Mr. Stewart

The position was set out by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy on 10th and 20th March, and it is that our current programme is not sufficient to maintain two building yards on nuclear submarine work. A choice had to be made between Vickers and Cammell Laird, and the decision was based on sound economic reasons and taken in the knowledge of Vickers' greater experience and capacity in all aspects of the work. Cammell Laird's order book for commercial vessels, I understand, is quite healthy, and I believe that other orders are in prospect.