§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister for Trade what percentage of cargoes are carried in British and in Soviet vessels in trade between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics at the present time and in May 1979.
§ Mr. SproatStatistics of flag shares in United Kingdom overseas trade are not available on a monthly basis. The latest available information is as follows:
68W
Flag shares by weight in trade between United Kingdom and the USSR United Kingdom Exports United Kingdom Imports Flag of vessel United Kingdom USSR United Kingdom USSR per cent. per cent per cent. per cent. 1979 10 86 3 79 1980 10 86 5 82 1981 not available 2 73
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister for Trade how many and what tonnage of ships, respectively, under the British flag there are at the present time; and what were the figures in May 1979.
§ Mr. SproatThe available statistics cover vessels registered in the United Kingdom and are given in the following table:
United Kingdom registered merchant vessels (vessels of 500 gross registered tons and over) 1 May 1979 31 December 1982 Number of Vessels 1,382 985 Thousands Gross Tons 26,745 19,233 Thousand deadweight tons 43,810 30,404 Note:
The figures include passenger vessels, container ships, cargo liners, tramps, bulk carriers and tankers. They exclude Government-owned vessels, offshore supply vessels, non cargo or passenger carrying sea going vessels, sailing vessels, dredgers, river and other sea going vessels.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister for Trade if it remains his policy that market forces should determine the shape and size of the British merchant fleet.
§ Mr. SproatYes.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister for Trade how many owners have (a) flagged out tonnage from and (b) flagged tonnage into the United Kingdom Registry in each of the periods May 1979 to May 1980, May 1980 to May 1981, May 1981 to May 1982, and May 1982 to the present date.
§ Mr. SproatI regret that the information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister for Trade if he will establish a think tank to develop the use of new technology for the British shipping industry.
§ Mr. SproatThe proposal made by the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers' Association to establish such a think tank is being considered with the others made to me during my consultations with the shipping industry.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister for Trade if he will set out in the Official Report his response to the programme to revive the British shipping industry which was presented to him by the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers' Association in January.
§ Mr. SproatI am considering carefully the many proposals made by the maritime unions, including the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers' Association, and by the General Council of British Shipping. I shall report to the House in due course on the outcome of these consultations.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Minister for Trade how many and what tonnage of British shipping, respectively, were laid up in the following areas: tanker and dry cargo in each of the periods May 1979 to May 1980, May 1980 to May 1981, May 1981 to May 1982 and May 1982 to the present time.
§ Mr. SproatThe available statistics, published by the General Council of British Shipping, cover United Kingdom registered merchant vessels laid up for lack of employment. The net changes during the periods requested are as follows: 69W
(+ =addition; - =reduction) Dry Cargo Tanker No. 000 DWT No. 000 DWT 1 May 1979 to 30 April 1980 - 7 - 65 - 8 -1,379 1 May 1980 to 30 April 1981 - 3 + 8 + 7 + 374 1 May 1981 to 30 April 1982 + 2 + 204 + 2 + 124 1 May 1982 to 31 January 1983 +49 +1,597 +12 +2,020