§ Mr. Bagierasked the Secretary of State for Industry what offer he has received from the Bristol Channel Ship Repair Company for the taking over of Messrs. Greenwells ship repairers of Sunderland and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KaufmanProposals to take over the lease of the Greenwell premises should be made to the leaseholders, Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd. A written offer made on 25th May by Sunderland Shipbuilders to sub-lease the Greenwell yard to Bristol Channel Ship Repairers on broadly the same terms as those enjoyed by the previous operators—terms which Bristol Channel Ship Repairers had said it was willing to accept—has received no substantive response.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the value of total output of ship repair work in the North-East and Merseyside, respectively, for the latest available period.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldIt is estimated that the output of ship repair work by commercial yards in the third quarter of 1975 was £18 million in the North-East and £6 million in the North-West. Separate figures for Merseyside are not available.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many persons were employed in shipbuilding in the North-East and Merseyside, respectively, at the latest available date.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldFollowing is the available information in respect of the shipbuilding industry which includes shipbuilding, ship repairing and marine engineering:
Employment in the third quarter of 1975 thousands North-East 32 North-West 20 Rest of Great Britain 36 Total 88 Separate figures for shipbuilding alone or for Merseyside are not available.
789W
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the gross tonnage of merchant shipping launched as a percentage of the United Kingdom total in the North-East and Merseyside, respectively, in 1974 and 1975, respectively.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldRegional statistics of the gross tonnage of merchant shipping launched are not readily available. The following information relates to the gross tonnage of completions:
Percentage of total for United Kingdom 1974 1975 North-East England 50 54 North-West England 1 2 Separate information for Merseyside is not available.