§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to seek to stop the Korean Government-subsidised tenders on United Kingdom shipbuilding contracts; and if he will also seek the withdrawal of the Trinity House lighthouse tender contract.
§ Mr. ButcherThrough our active participation in the dialogue between the OECD working party on shipbuilding and the Government of the Republic of Korea we continue to press for pricing arrangements which can best ensure the health of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry with the long term aim of the phasing out of all subsidies worldwide. The decision to place the lighthouse tender contract in Korea was a matter for Trinity House and no public money was involved. The Government concluded that the level of subsidy that would have been necessary to keep the order in the United Kingdom could not have been justified.