Mr. Edwardsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the restriction imposed by Shipbuilding Securities, Limited, has wiped out the entire shipbuilding industry in Middlesbrough; and whether, in view of the expansion of the naval shipbuilding programme, he intends to make use of the berths on the south bank of the Tees where, in the past, so many ships have been built?
§ Mr. ShakespeareI am aware that certain shipyards on the Tees have been purchased by National Shipbuilders Security, Limited. The two remaining yards in the district are mainly concerned with the building of commercial vessels, but on all suitable occasions they are given opportunities of tendering for the different types of auxiliary naval vessels within their capacity.