asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when he expects the keel of the assault ship ordered to be built by Harland and Wolff to be laid.

Messrs. Harland and Wolff are now working out the programme for building this ship. The date when the keel will be laid will be announced as soon as possible.

Is my hon. Friend aware that over 8,000 men have been laid off by Messrs. Harland and Wolff in the last six months and that others are under the threat of redundancy, and that the sooner the keel is laid the greater the relief will be to those in the black trades who are under the threat of redundancy at the moment?

I am aware of these facts, and that is why I was particularly delighted that Messrs. Harland and Wolff won this contract.