§ 37. Mr. Doddsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will order inquiries under Section 165 of the Companies Act 1948 into the practices of Vitasafe (England) Ltd., Concert Hall 74W of management in the British shipbuilding industry, with particular reference to encouraging a greater measure of consultation between management and men on matters of common concern.
§ Mr. MasonThese matters clearly affect the costs and competitiveness of the industry and are therefore already within the terms of reference of the Shipbuilding Inquiry Committee which was set up last February.
§ Mr. McMasterasked the President of the Board of Trade how much money Her Majesty's Government have invested, either directly or indirectly, in improving the efficiency and capital capacity of the British shipbuilding industry in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MasonShipbuilding, along with other industries in development districts, is eligible for grants and loans under the Local Employment Acts whose primary purpose is the provision of additional employment, although improvement in efficiency or capacity is normally expected. Assistance of this kind offered by the Board of Trade to shipbuilding firms in Great Britain in the last five years has been as follows:
to the Ship Division of the National Physical Laboratory which in the past five years have been as follows:
Record Clubs Ltd., the Corsano Co. Ltd., and Leisure Arts Ltd., which are acting in a manner oppressive of their members, and of which details have been sent by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford.
75W
§ Mr. DarlingThe Consumer Council has received many complaints about the sales methods of this organisation, but these are not of the type which would justify the Board of Trade, in appointing an Inspector under Section 165 of the Companies Act, to inquire into the company's affairs. If the hon. Member has any further information I will consider it.