§ 42. Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the meeting held with representatives of the Shipbuilding Conference on Monday, 4th June.
§ 52. Mr. Jegerasked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from British shipbuilders relating to the new policy of giving grants and loans for fishing vessels built abroad; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. HayMy right hon. Friend met the builders on 4th June to hear their representations on the Government's policy and to discuss its effects.
He explained the procedures which the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board would follow when an owner wished to build a vessel abroad with the help of a grant or loan. These procedures are designed to give British builders an equal chance to compete.
He and the industry agreed to carry out certain detailed studies jointly.
§ 53. Mr. Jegerasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the concern in British shipyards at the decision of Her Majesty's Government that fishing vessels built abroad will rank for grants and loans; and what prior consultations he had with the Shipping Conference or with its trawler builder members before deciding that fishing vessels built abroad will rank for grants and loans.
§ Mr. HayMy right hon. Friend is aware of the concern in British shipyards, and he met the builders last Monday to discuss the effects with them.
Shipbuilders were not consulted beforehand, but in reaching the decision the Government took their interests into account.
§ 58. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Transport what estimate he has made of the number of fishing vessels in receipt of subsidy which will be constructed in foreign shipbuilding yards.
§ Mr. HayIt is not possible for me to estimate the number of orders which 59W fishermen will want to place abroad, but I should not expect it to be very large.