§ 55. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the Joint Parliamentary Secretary's recent tour of Tyne and Wear shipyards; and what steps he is taking 137W to bring repair work to Tyne and Wear yards, which at the moment have little or no work, and thus provide employment for the growing number of unemployed in the ship-repairing industry.
§ Mr. MarplesMy hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary visited a wide selection of shipyards and ship-repair yards on the north-east coast after Christmas and again last month. He went to see at first hand what is happening there in these industries and he has reported his impressions to me. The fall in repair work is general and follows the decline in shipping activity. The hon. Member will appreciate that I am not in a position to divert work from other areas.