Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking regarding Soviet freight charges for cargo ships after studying the document on Soviet Shipping which she has lent to them.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I have read with interest the publication which the noble Baroness so kindly lent me. As I indicated in earlier Answers, we believe that this question must be pursued in collaboration with our Western maritime partners. This is what we are doing.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask him whether, in the interests of the advantage to the invisible exports of our shipping industry, very quick action can be taken? Would he agree with me that part of the problem is that very important matters seem to take so long to deal with? Will the noble Lord forgive me if I keep putting down the Question in order that he may then stir up those who are to make the investigation?—because that would be very helpful to this country and to the shipping industry.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, it is very easy to forgive the noble Baroness; her sincerity is known. May I say that the whole business of Government is unfuriatingly slow, as noble Lords opposite will know only too well. All I can say is that this is made even slower by the fact that we as a maritime nation cannot act alone. However, we understand that CENSA—there is a new group of letters for the House—which includes the European and Japanese shipowners, have been invited to send a mission to the USSR and are in the process of following up this invitation. Let us hope that their talks are satisfactory.