§ Mr. Shoreasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the tonnage of merchant ships completed in British shipyards in 1983 and in each year since 1979; and what was the total tonnage of new merchant ships acquired by British-owned shipping companies.
§ Mr. ButcherThe available information is as follows:
Gross Registered Tonnage of Merchant Vessels Completed* 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 In United Kingdom shipyards 707 431 217 453 540 For United Kingdom owned companies 878 416 494 672 396 * Vessels of 100 gross tons and over.