§ Mr. Raisonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the rate of construction of warships in British shipyards; how their rate compares with the rate in other EEC countries; and what steps he is taking to improve the rate.
§ Dr. GilbertConstruction of warships accepted from British shipyards over the last few years has been subject to delays for a number of reasons. Given different requirements and circumstances there is no ready basis for comparison with other EEC countries. There has been some improvement more recently in the rate of construction of ships now building. The Royal Navy naturally wishes to receive warships in the shortest possible time scale and, since the establishment of British Shipbuilders, machinery has been set up in which the Ministry of Defence and British Shipbuilders are pursuing ideas for further improvement.