§ 2.52 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to adjust the naval shipbuilding programme in order to bring forward the ordering dates of ships and help to relieve unemployment in the shipyards.]
12§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD CARRINGTON)My Lords, we have considered the possibility of accelerating the naval shipbuilding programme in order to help employment in the shipbuilding industry in its present difficulties. As the noble Lord will be aware, a programme for building Polaris-type nuclear submarines is now being worked out. There is also the normal programme for naval shipbuilding, under which orders will be placed from time to time during the coming year. These programmes will impose a heavy charge on the Exchequer and a heavy burden on the technical departments of the Admiralty, and it is not possible to add very substantially to them. I am, however, glad to say that it has been found possible to bring forward the ordering of two more ships, one a Fleet replenishment ship and the other a tanker. We had intended to order one Fleet replenishment ship in the early summer; we shall now order two. We hope to invite suitable shipbuilders to submit competitive tenders for them next month. As regards the tanker, we invited tenders some time ago for the design and building of two tankers. We shall instead place orders for three ships. These orders will be placed very shortly.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords. I thank my noble friend for his Answer, and I congratulate him on taking the first step in the right direction.