asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total tonnage of orders held by British shipyards at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what percentage of this tonnage relates to order placed by the Maritime Fruit Carriers Company.

On 31st December 1975 outstanding orders for merchant ships held by United Kingdom shipyards amounted to 4·947 million gross tons. 35 per cent. of this total related to orders placed by the Maritime Fruit Carriers Company.

Estimates of United Kingdom output, exports, imports and implied demand for manufactured goods are given in the following table for the years 1963, 1970 and 1974. Comparable information is not available about competitive and complementary imports nor are estimates yet available for 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the position of British shipbuilding, in light of the financial problems of Maritime Fruit Carriers.

It is too early to say how Maritime Fruit Carriers reported difficulties will affect the British shipbuilding industry.