HC Deb 06 May 1975 vol 891 cc428-9W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total turnover, for each of the last 10 years, respectively. of the shipbuilding industry, and the small-craft boat industry, building craft of a gross tonnage of less than 15 tons; what percentage annually was exported. by each category; and how much tax-payers' money was made available, each year, in both categories, by way of grant or loan.

Mr. Meacher

The tables below give the information available to my Department. I regret that it is not exactly in the form requested because consistent records of turnover are not available for the whole period and the records which are available use limits other than 15 gross tons; moreover, the turnover figures relate to establishments employing 25 people or more and thus exclude many small firms in the boatbuilding industry. However, the export figures are comprehensive.

TABLE I
TURNOVER AND EXPORTS OF SHIPS
Vessels of 100 gross tons and over, including Naval Vessels
Vessels completed Exports Percentage exported
£ million £ million
1971 255 56 22
1972 268 104 39
1973 306 110 36
1974 295* 94 32

TABLE II
TURNOVER AND EXPORTS OF SMALL CRAFT
Deliveries of craft less than 100 gross tons† Exports of craft less than 80 gross tons
£ million £ million
1971 21 9
1972 31 10
1973 36 14
1974 39* 26
* Estimated figure.
† By establishments employing 25 people or more.

TABLE III

Special assistance given to the shipbuilding industry by way of grant or loan during the last 10 years. The figures do not include shipbuilders' relief or any assistance given under general measures of support for industry. They do include assistance given under Part II of the Industry Act 1972.

A. SHIPBUILDERS £ million
Year Grants Loans Total
1965–66 1.000 1.000
1966–67 3.440 3.440
1967–68 0.122 3.500 3.622
1968–69 5.491 5.935 11.426
1969–70 6.532 10.620 17.152
1970–71 6.815 3.218 10.033
1971–72 11.929 8.664 20.593
1972–73 24.122 7.004 31.126
1973–74 21.996 15.646 37.642
1974–75 17.015 29.162 46.177

B. SMALL CRAFT

Selective financial assistance to small craft boatbuilders under Part II of the Industry Act 1972 up to 31st March 1975 amounted to about £1,200 in interest relief grants and £30,000 in loans.

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