North-East Shipyards (Orders)

Oral Answers to Questions — Shipbuilding – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1959.

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Photo of Mr Frederick Willey Mr Frederick Willey , Sunderland North 12:00, 8 July 1959

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the tonnage of orders at north-east shipyards cancelled or postponed during the latest 12-month period; and what was the similar tonnage for the previous corresponding period.

Photo of Hon. Thomas Galbraith Hon. Thomas Galbraith , Glasgow Hillhead

Seventeen building licences, totalling approximately 178,000 gross tons were cancelled in North-East Coast shipyards during the year ended 30th June, 1959, as compared with 23 licences, totalling approximately 179,000 gross tons during the preceding twelve months. Details of orders postponed are not available.

Photo of Mr Frederick Willey Mr Frederick Willey , Sunderland North

Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that these are serious figures for shipbuilding in the North-East? Will he also try to get the postponement figures, because many cancellations are cloaked as postponements and we want these figures in order to obtain a realistic picture of what is happening?

Photo of Hon. Thomas Galbraith Hon. Thomas Galbraith , Glasgow Hillhead

It will be a difficult job, but I will certainly do my best.

Mr. Dugdale:

Will the hon. Gentleman take note how very glad we are to see both him and the Parliamentary Secretary here and in good health, as they were absent last night when my right hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown) asked a number of very important questions about the Royal Navy?