§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Industry who will represent the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry at the 74W OECD November meeting when the policy predictions of the Association of West European Shipbuilders will be discussed; in what capacity each individual will attend; and how many of these have direct connections with Scottish shipbuilding.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe United Kingdom delegation at the meeting of the OECD working party on shipbuilding on 7th to 9th November will be led by a senior official of my Department. The delegation will include economic and statistical advisers. The Association of Western European Shipbuilders has made no policy predictions, but a recent forecast of world demand for shipbuilding made by the association will be given to the working party as part of an exchange of information on forecasts of world demand made in various countries. My Department is directly responsible for the affairs of the whole British shipbuilding industry but is, of course, in constant contact with the Scottish Office.