§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Industry what help he is giving the shipbuilding industry to develop vessels capable of commercial deep-sea mining; and if he will consult British Shipbuilders about exploiting this potentially valuable market as quickly as possible and concentrate production of these vessels in areas of high unemployment.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldBritish Shipbuilders is fully aware of this potential market in the longer term and is confident that it will be able to produce whatever ships are required by the mining companies. However, orders for new ships will not arise until seabed mining on a commercial scale is practicable.