§ 65. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Technology whether he is aware of the concern of British shipworkers at the Pacific and Orient Group Overseas Containers Limited placing an order for five ships valued at £25 million with German shipyards; why he is allowing this expenditure of foreign currency; and whether he will take action by financial or other means to enable this type of work to be done in Great Britain rather than abroad.
§ Mr. StonehouseI understand that orders for five of the six container ships required by this company went to German yards because of the price and delivery terms they were able to offer. It is not the Government's policy to require British owners to order their ships from British yards but we are taking action through the Shipbuilding Industry Bill with the object of making British shipbuilding competitive on world markets.