§ 46. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Technology what additional Government orders are to be given to British shipyards to fill the gap in the order book left by the Government's refusal of overseas warship orders.
§ 49. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Technology, in view of the fact that British shipbuilders have received only 34 orders for ships in the first quarter of 1967, against 43 last year, and that the industry's order book now stands at a four-year low figure, what new steps he is taking to help this industry, and to implement Her Majesty's Government's policy of providing full employment for the workers.
§ Mr. BennMy Department does not place orders for ships and I have no plans for doing so.
The Government have already taken steps through the export credit arrangements and by introducing the Shipbuilding Industry Bill to enable yards to compete 184W for home and overseas orders. I hope that shipbuilders will now make full use of these facilities to obtain the orders they require to maintain employment.