§ 18. Mr. Willeyasked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made in his consideration of providing Government aid to assist the development of the Seahorse marine engine.
§ Mr. HefferMy Department is discussing with those developing the engine certain proposals made by them.
Mr. WileyI am obliged to my hon. Friend, but does he appreciate that this development is crucial to marine engineering in both Sunderland and the North-East Coast? In view of this, will he try to expedite the discussions he is holding? I realise that there are difficulties about any such developments, particularly as the recent redundancies at Doxford's engineering works have caused a good deal of apprehension.
§ Mr. HefferI can give my right hon. Friend an assurance that we are anxious to reach a decision as soon as possible.
§ Mr. ChatawayDoes the hon. Gentleman hold out much hope that there will be investment in shipbuilding or marine engineering when there is the threat of nationalisation at some unspecified date?
§ Mr. HefferThe right hon. Gentleman is fully aware that over the years considerable sums of public money have been pumped into the industry and that many of the existing shipyards would not be in existence if such public money had not been so pumped in. I think that the case for ultimate public ownership in the industry is proved conclusively.