§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the Belfast shipyard.
§ Mr. Giles ShawHarland and Wolff Ltd. has at present seven ships on order, for delivery up to the end of 1980. The company urgently needs new orders to maintain continuity of work as the existing contracts are progressively completed, but, as the hon. Member will know, world shipbuilding capacity far exceeds current demand, orders are very scarce and international competition is very keen. The Government are examining the problems of the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom as a whole and the position of Harland and Wolff will be considered in that overall context.