§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance in the form of subsidy and investment his Department is prepared to give to the state-owned merchant shipbuilding industry and to the associated construction of slow-speed marine diesel engines.
§ Mr. Butcher£137 million of the external finance which the Department is providing to British Shipbuilders in 1984–85 is primarily to support merchant shipbuilding and engine building. For 1985–86 the Government have announced an EFL for the whole of British Shipbuilders of £36 million, after taking account of the expected proceeds of sale of the warship yards. A detailed breakdown of support specifically for slow-speed marine diesel engine building is not available.