§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Industry what public funds have been granted to Maritime Fruit Carriers; and how the company's difficulties are affecting the British shipbuilding industry.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe normal credit guarantees under Section 10 of the Industry Act 1972 have been given in respect of ships constructed in United Kingdom yards, against appropriate security, together with the usual investment grant payable under the Industrial Development Act 1966. The details are a matter of commercial confidence between the banks, the company and my Department. It is still too early to say how the company's difficulties will affect the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry.