§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make an assessment of the cost of the dispute between the shipowners and the National Union of Seamen.
§ Mr. EyreThe total cost of the dispute is not available and cannot be assessed with accuracy or without disproportionate effort. There have been major losses to shipowners, in terms of both current revenue and new trading opportunities. There will be consequences through loss of ships to the United Kingdom register, with fewer job opportunities for seamen. There is also a cost to other sectors of the economy which is difficult to quantify.