HC Deb 05 July 1976 vol 914 c411W
Mr. Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether in anticipation of the nationalisation of shiprepairing companies, he has given, or caused to be given, to them any advice regarding the terms on which they might currently tender for work.

Mr. Les Huckfield

It is for the corn-panics to decide on a normal commercial basis the terms on which they tender for work. In a statement in Parliament on 4th November 1974 the Secretary of State for Industry gave an assurance that in the period up to vesting day no company or person will be penalised as a result of reasonable action taken in the normal course of business and in good faith. Since publication of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill it has been made clear to the companies that the safeguarding provisions of the Bill do not apply to normal commercial transactions entered into in good faith.