§ 151. Mr. Osborneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the volume of merchant shipbuilding in the United Kingdom has fallen by 348,484 tons since June, 1948, during which period the amount of construction abroad has increased substantially; and what steps he is taking to encourage the reduction of United Kingdom costs, and so prevent a rise of unemployment in the industry.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsThe answer to the first part of the Question is " Yes." In reply to the second part, I am satisfied that the shipbuilding industry fully realises the importance of reducing costs in the face of the inevitable increase of foreign competition. The volume of work in hand in June, 1948, was swollen by delays in completions caused by shortages of raw materials and manufactured components. There is no significant rise in unemployment in the industry since that date, and there is sufficient work in hand and on order to maintain employment at about the present level for another two years.