Govan Shipyard (Hansard, 18 April 1988)

§ Mr. Bob Clay (Sunderland, North)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the developments at Govan shipyard and the future of British Shipbuilders.

The Government's statement shows that the Government, having failed for years to develop policies to sustain and support British merchant shipbuilding, are washing their hands of the results, as though it were some God-given act and nothing to do with them. The House should urgently debate certain policies. It is absurd to say that there is no work available, other than what the Norwegians offer to Govan, when the House has recently debated the need for major adaptations to roll-on/roll-off ferries for safety purposes, as called for by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. The House could debate also a scrap-and-build policy, many other trade and aid packages and Third world orders that British Shipbuilders could secure if there were more support from the Government.

This matter is specific. After all, we have just had a statement from the Government which affects not only Govan but Sunderland, Appledore, and the Ferguson yard on the Clyde, the Kincaid engine works and British Shipbuilders headquarters in Benton house in Newcastle. Altogether, the statement's implications could mean that up to 25,000 jobs will be at stake, allowing for the jobs that are dependent on the people directly employed within British Shipbuilders and their employees.

The matter is urgent above all else because the uncertainty felt during the past few days, which today's statement will undoubtedly worsen, makes it virtually impossible for British Shipbuilders to obtain further orders—for instance, in NESL. It is not likely that a shipowner other than the British Government, who have consistently failed to place public sector orders, would place an order in view of the prevailing uncertainty. That is the reason above all others why the House should debate this matter.

The statement spells the end of British merchant ship building. That is absurd for an island nation. Thousands of jobs are at stake. I have argued on strategic grounds why the House should debate this matter, but we should consider also the jobs and livelihoods of those affected. We are talking about 2,414 people employed by NESL in Sunderland and 326 people employed by Sunderland Forge Services, with the jobs—