HC Deb 23 July 1969 vol 787 c392W
Mr. Hannan

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the award by British Railways of a contract worth £2½ million to Canture Marale Breda in Italy for a new ferry for the Stranraer-Larne route in relation to its effect on the shipbuilding industry.

Mr. Fowler

The United Kingdom Shipbuilding Industry took orders worth nearly £150 million in the first five months of this year and at the end of that period had an order book worth about £700 million. In the circumstances I do not consider that the placing abroad of this single order will have any significant effect on the commercial strength or level of activity of the British Shipbuilding Industry.