HC Deb 12 December 1977 vol 941 cc62-3W
Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether British shipowners will have made available to them the same inducements as were made available for the Polish shipping agreement if they were to place an order of similar size.

Mr. Kaufman

All forms of Government assistance made available for the sale of ships to Poland would be available to a British shipowner, except that the provision of credit guarantees would be under the Home Shipbuilding Credit Scheme, not by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will, as a matter of urgency, discuss with all concerned a productivity deal for the work force at Swan Hunter within the pay code with a view to ending the dispute at present endangering employment in the Tyne shipyard.

Mr. Les Huckfield

This is primarily a matter for British Shipbuilders.