HL Deb 02 November 1994 vol 558 cc65-6WA
Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What differences in production and design facilities exist between merchant ship building yards and warship building yards.

The Ministers of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Earl Ferrers)

There are differences between the merchant and warship yards. Some may build nuclear powered submarines, others tugs or plastic hulled boats. There are fundamental differences in the experience of the design teams and in the performance specifications with which they are working. Production differences relate to capital equipment employed and to the very different types of equipment to be installed in the vessels.