HC Deb 26 July 1971 vol 822 cc11-2
8. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy as to the compatibility of the Government director on the board of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited holding other directorships.

Mr. John Davies

There is no Government director on the board of U.C.S. I am not aware that there were any circumstances which would have made the S.I.B. director's membership of the board of U.C.S. incompatible with other directorships held by him.

Mr. Douglas

While I accept the right hon. Gentleman's correct description of the position of the director involved, will not he concede that the fact that the board of Yarrow & Co. had in effect two directors at a particular time on the board of U.C.S. might have led to undue influence in regard to information about Yarrow & Co.'s affairs being conveyed to the board of U.C.S., and, through the Shipbuilding Industry Board director, to his Department?

Mr. Davies

No, Sir, I do not think so. At the time when the gentleman in question became a member of Yarrow's board it was felt, on the contrary, that there might be real use in having a common element at a time when, the hon. Gentleman will remember, there was a question of a take-over by one company of part of the interests of another.

17. Mr. Sutcliffe

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the situation concerning Upper Clyde Shipbuilders.

Mr. John Davies

I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

Mr. Sutcliffe

Will my right hon. Friend undertake to make a statement before the Summer Recess? Will he at the same time look into the situation at Doxford, Sunderland?

Mr. Davies

I hope to make a statement before the Summer Recess and I will take account of what my hon. Friend says about Doxford.

Mr. Benn

Will the right hon. Gentleman convey to the Leader of the House that, if a decision on U.C.S. were to worsen the grave unemployment situation in Scotland, time should be provided in the House for an early debate on it?

Mr. Davies

No doubt my right hon. Friend will take into account what the right hon. Gentleman said.

Back to