HC Deb 16 December 1958 vol 597 cc171-2W
46. Mr. Osborne

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that Japan has just built the world's largest tanker of 104,500 tons in five months; and if he will therefore call a special conference under his own chairmanship of both sides of the shipbuilding industry for the ending by agreement of all restrictive practices, and so give British shipbuilding a hope of surviving against this type of intense competition from overseas.

The Prime Minister

I have seen reports about this achievement. While I do not necessarily accept the implications of the second part of the Question, in my opinion this, and other achievements abroad, do point the need for both sides of the industry soberly to assess our shipbuilding prospects in the context of the talks on the efficient use of manpower referred to by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour in his reply of 30th April.

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