§ 41. Mr. Pageasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the estimated volume of shipbuilding orders, stated in tonnage and in value, placed with British shipyards during this year, to the latest convenient date; and how the figures compare with those for the similar periods of the previous three years.
§ Mr. DigbyLicences were issued to British shipbuilders for 657,000 gross tons of ships in the first half of 1955. In the first half-years of 1952, 1953 and 1954, licences were issued for the construction138W of 1,186,000, 261,000 and 178,000 gross tons respectively. I do not know the value of the orders involved.