§ LORD GLYNasked Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the present difficulties of obtaining orders for shipbuilding in various British yards, very special attention will be given to any action by any Government Department in 466WA refusing to grant permission for orders to be accepted from foreign countries for ships to be built in the United Kingdom especially when it is known that date of completion of the order and the financial arrangements are satisfactory and that such refusal of permission to build at once enables a foreign shipbuilding yard to obtain the order and thus cause needless unemployment in this country.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (THE EARL OF SELKIRK)Her Majesty's Government are concerned that the shipbuilding industry should secure a high level of overseas orders. Warships must of their nature be given special attention, but orders for these are not refused save in exceptional circumstances and after careful consideration by Her Majesty's Government of all the issues involved.
House adjourned at twenty minutes past six o'clock.