HC Deb 12 March 1986 vol 93 cc927-8
7. Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with British Shipbuilders about its Fleet Support King design of fleet support vessels.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The chairman, Graham Day, has kept my right hon. Friend fully informed of the development of the Fleet Support King design, and of its potential on the home and export markets.

Mr. Millan

Will the Minister applaud the initiative of British Shipbuilders in developing this design, which would be built in merchant yards—the depressed sector of the industry at the moment — and specifically at shipbuilders in Govan and Sunderland,,? The design is excellent and will give an economic solution to certain naval requirements. Will the Minister do something to get a more positive response than we have had so far from the Ministry of Defence, because support from that Ministry would be important in obtaining orders from foreign navies?

Mr. Morrison

I agree with the right hon. Gentleman about applauding the design originating from British Shipbuilders. I understand the right hon. Gentleman's points about Govan and Sunderland, but it would be for British Shipbuilders to make up its own mind eventually. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will read carefully what the right hon. Gentleman said in the other part of his question.

Mr. Clay

Will the Minister accept that it is not good enough to say that his colleague in the Ministry of Defence will read carefully what my right hon. Friend has to say? We always hear from the Government, and particularly from Trade and Industry Ministers, that the problems in shipbuilding have to do with the world recession. They make every excuse, as long as it has nothing to do with the Government. These orders are directly in the gift of the British Government. Is the Minister aware that the first Stena ship floats out of the Pallion yard in my constituency today, that the second goes out in June, that the crane ship leaves North sands in August, and that after that there are no more orders in Sunderland Shipbuilders' yards? Is the Minister aware that over 2,000 jobs could be saved if the Ministry of Defence gets off its backside and places these orders? Will the Minister have words with his colleagues in the Ministry of Defence today and tell them that these jobs are urgently needed in my constituency and in the constituency of my right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan, (Mr. Millan)?

Mr. Morrison

I am aware, of course, that the difficulties in the shipbuilding market are quite intense. I am also aware that, thanks to the enormous strides that have been made by the management and the work force, British Shipbuilders is far more competitive than hitherto. I am sure that the question that the hon. Gentleman put to me today is one that he put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence yesterday. That matter is my right hon. Friend's responsibility.

Mr. Gordon Brown

In the Minister's discussions with British Shipbuilders about the future work load at Govan and at other yards, what practical initiatives has he considered to secure foreign and merchant orders as well as defence orders to save the 5,000 jobs in British Shipbuilders that are at risk in the coming year?

Mr. Morrison

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the management and chairman of British Shipbuilders go overseas to seek the orders which the hon. Gentleman would like, which will ensure that those jobs are preserved.