§ 81. Mr. Ewartasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government will give an additional allocation of steel for merchant shipbuilding, in view of the fact that present allocations show a shortfall of 35 per cent. of the industry's requirements, and that the position is such as to divert shipowners' orders to Continental markets and is creating a serious unemployment and short-working position in the industry
§ Mr. DigbyI regret that steel supplies are insufficient to enable a further increase in the allocation of steel to the shipbuilding industry to be made during the current quarter. The shortfall mentioned by the hon. Member relates to the third quarter of 1952, but the subsequent increases in the shipbuilding allocation already announced have narrowed the gap between requirements and allocations very considerably.
The primary cause of British shipowners placing orders abroad appears to be the full order books here. I cannot accept the hon. Member's suggestion that there is serious unemployment in the shipbuilding industry. The latest returns show that employment in the shipyards is higher than at any time in 1951.