§ Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his estimate of the investment in fixed 11W assets by the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry in the past five years;
(2) what is his estimate of the investment in fixed assets by the United Kingdom shipyards specialising in naval construction in the past five years.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantFollowing are the figures of fixed capital expenditure by the shipbuilding and marine engineering industries from 1966 to 1970, the latest year for which the information is at present available. Separate figures are not available for shipyards specialising in naval construction.
£ million 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 8 4 14 15 19
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of the fact that British shipyards were unable to tender for recent contracts worth £50 million for six semi-submersible drilling rigs for North Sea oil field development work, whether he will undertake an investigation of the shipbuilding industry as a matter of urgency.
§ Mr. ChatawayMy Department is already carrying out a comprehensive study of the industry.