§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Minister of Technology what was the average percentage of world orders obtained by British shipyards in the years 1960 to 1964, and in the years 1965 to 1969, respectively.
§ Mr. BennBased on information derived from Lloyds Register of Shipping the figures for United Kingdom shipyards are 10.4 per cent, and 7.2 per cent. respectively of gross tonnage of net new orders. On the basis of official figures, net new orders for export increased from 16 per cent. to 36 per cent. of the United Kingdom total for this period. Overall, in tonnage terms the orders received averaged 1.0m. p.a. in 1960–64 and 1.6m. p.a. in 1965–69.
The present merchant ship order book is now 4.8m. gross tons, worth about £600m., the highest for over 10 years, with naval orders worth £200m. above that.