§ 17. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of States for Industry if terms are available to British shipowners, as good as those offered to Polish shipowners, regarding Government assistance.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Les Huckfield)Yes, Sir. A similar scale of Government-supported credit and assistance from the Intervention Fund would be available for an order from a British owner in appropriate circumstances.
§ Mr. AdleyIs the Minister aware that a group of people who contacted me were put in touch by me, through his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, with British Shipbuilders and have had a discussion on this question, but they have described the meeting to me as amiable but vague? Will the Minister invite British Shipbuilders to lay down clearly, or do so himself, for all customers or potential customers, what terms are available under the Intervention Fund so that potential customers may know whether they can give serious consideration to having ships built by British Shipbuilders?
§ Mr. HuckfieldI am sure that the hon. Member will appreciate that the Intervention Fund is essentially a flexible instrument, but, if he would care to let me or British Shipbuilders have further details of the particular case that he has raised, it would be looked into.