§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Minister of Technology if he will authorise the formation of a Government holding company to purchase and operate the 199W Burntisland Shipyard without loss of employment until such time as a suitable purchaser can be found.
§ Mr. FowlerNo. As to the short term position, the yard is still at work on existing orders. We have examined the situation with the Shipbuilding Industry Board and have explained to the hon Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs (Mr. Gourlay) and other local representatives that the best hope of a long-term solution would be if a shipbuilding undertaking which can find orders capable of being carried out profitably at this yard were to take it over.