§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Technology if he will state his plans to assist the British shipbuilding industry as an alternative to the withdrawal of facilities by the Shipbuilding Credit Act 1964 and having regard to the increased and increasing competition of foreign shipbuilders.
§ Mr. BennSection 7 of the Shipbuilding Industry Act already empowers me to guarantee loans to finance on favourable terms the construction in U.K. shipyards of ships ordered by home owners. Measures being taken by the industry, with the assistance of the Shipbuilding Industry Board under that Act, are designed to enable shipbuilders to compete with foreign yards.