§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people were employed in the shipbuilding industry in each of the years 1973 to 1977; and if he will estimate the number of jobs which would be provided it cuts in the programme for Royal Navy Ship building were restored.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldSeparate figures are not available for shipbuilding. The number of people directly employed in the shipbuilding and marine engineering industry in Great Britain is as follows.
1973 (as at end June) … 177,000 1974 (as at end June) … 175,000 1975 (as at end June) … 174,000 1976 (as at end June) … 175,000 1977 (as at end June) … 174,000 (provisional) There are, of course, also many other jobs in a number of industries which are dependant on a successful British shipbuilding industry. I understand that no estimate is available of the effects on employment of the restoration of the cuts in the shipbuilding programme for the Royal Navy set out in the Statement on Defence Estimates 1975 (Cmnd. 5976).
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract signed with the Polish Government; and, in particular, if he will state to whom ships will be invoiced by British Shipbuilders; and when British Shipbuilders will receive payment.
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§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI have placed in the Library a copy of the communiqué which my right hon. Friend signed with the Polish Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Shipping. The agreement between the British and Polish industries is commercially confidential. British Shipbuilders will invoice the ships to a company resident in Poland jointly owned by the Polish Steamship Company and British Shipbuilders.
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total subsidy per ship ordered to be paid out of the Intervention Fund on the Anglo-Polish shipping order.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 21st November.—[Vol. 939, c. 556.]
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total financing cost of the Anglo-Polish Shipbuilding Agreement.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 10th November.—[Vol. 938, c. 224.]