HC Deb 14 February 1967 vol 741 c51W
33. Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will invite the responsible Ministers of the world's major shipbuilding countries to attend an international conference in London to discuss ways and means of ending the present pattern of competitive interest-rate subsidies paid solely on ships built for export account in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, in order to limit the distortions which these are presently causing in international shipbuilding.

Mr. Dell

There are no interest or other subsidies for our exports of ships. The question of Government assistance to shipbuilding industries is currently under discussion between the main shipbuilding countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and I do not think it is necessary to invite the Ministers concerned in other countries to a conference in London at this stage.