§ Q1. Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Walker.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)I have at present no plans to visit Walker, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that in Walker there are two Swan Hunter shipyards in which there is currently not a single keel? We are grateful for the order for the third through-deck cruiser, which will go to Wallsend, but the workers in my constituency in Walker are now starting to worry about their future. What will the Prime Minister say to his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry in the course of his discussions with the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions about the points that it has put forward —scrap and build and others—to present some more work to the shipyards in North-East England, and in particular on the Tyne?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that there are anxieties on the Tyne, but there will probably be even more if the vote of confidence is not carried tonight. As to forward orders, as my hon. Friend says, the new "Ark Royal" has been allocated to Swan Hunter, and I understand that it is tendering for other naval 903 orders. I believe that British Shipbuilders is fully aware of the need to maintain viability of its operations on the Tyne, but my hon. Friend will be aware, as are his constituents, of the very great difficulty that exists in the world shipbuilding industry at present. British Shipbuilders is doing all that it can to get fresh orders.