§ 17. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his proposals for the nationalisation of the shipbuilding industry extend to small shipyards 678 such as the Berwick-upon-Tweed shipyard.
§ Mr. MeacherThe proposals, which were outlined in the discussion paper referred to in my right hon. Friend's statement on 31st July, do not extend to small shipyards such as that at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
§ Mr. BeithThat clarification is welcome, but does not the Minister agree that the ending of uncertainty in large as well as small shipyards would be expedited if he clarified the rest of his intentions by publishing a list of the shipbuilding firms which he intends to nationalise?
§ Mr. MeacherMy right hon. Friend has already published in the consultative document a list of 13 companies which are shipbuilders, ship repairers and manufacturers of slow-speed diesel engines. The reason why the decision is not yet definite is that we are having consultations with the SRNA on the employers' side and the CSEU on the union side, and until those consultations are completed we do not wish to be absolutely watertight about the list; but it may be assumed that that is approximately correct.