§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has yet to be allocated from the shipbuilding intervention funds; and if he plans to provide further additional sums to the fund.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldAt 31st May firm commitments against the fund amounted to £57 million. As regards further assistance, I have nothing to add to the reply given on 10th April to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold).—[Vol. 947, c. 963–4.]
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has received any rationalisation and reorganisation plans from British Shipbuilders; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldMy right hon. Friend does not expect to receive British Shipbuilders' corporate plan until towards the end of the year. My Department has, however, been kept informed by British Shipbuilders of the measures already taken and now in hand to restructure the industry in the light of market conditions, and of the progress which has been made towards the formulation of the corporate plan.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Industry what advice he has received from the EEC Commission regarding the consequences of Great Britain's membership of the EEC on 316W such vessels on order from British shipyards at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will provide comparable figures for the same date on each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe information is as follows:
future plans for the shipbuilding industry and in particular on the operation of the Intervention Fund.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldNone, specifically, but as is well known the Council of the European Communities approved a directive on aids to shipbuilding on 4th April 1978, which makes provision for aid schemes such as the United Kingdom's Intervention Fund for the shipbuilding industry.