Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Technology what proposals, he has now received from British shipbuilding firms regarding the construction of a nuclear-propelled merchant ship; whether any of these proposals were from Scottish shipbuilding firms; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerThe Department has received a request from one shipbuilding company for a substantial grant to finance a study by them and a shipping company of the market requirements for a nuclear container ship and the production of a specification for such a vessel. Another shipbuilding company has submitted a paper giving an estimate of the economic benefit of nuclear propulsion for this type of ship. Both will be discussed with the companies. Neither communication was from a Scottish shipbuilder.