§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received representations from the General Council of British Shipping suggesting built-in defence features for merchant ships; and what is his reply.
§ Mr. BlakerAs I informed the House on 19 July, I had a useful meeting earlier in the year with the General Council of British Shipping at which this subject was raised.—[Vol. 28, c. 50.] My officials will be continuing these discussions with the Department of Trade and shipowners. We envisage that the subject will be pursued in the forum of the shipping defence advisory committee, at which all interests are represented.