(c) crown copyright Catalogue Reference:CAB/129/194/22 Image Reference:0001 Do C U M E N T IS THE P R O P E R T Y O F HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S G O V E R N M E N T CP(77) 22 C O P Y NO 22 F e b r u a r y 1977 CABINET A I R C R A F T A N D SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRIES B I L L M e m o r a n d u m by the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the Council I. F o l l o w i n g the d i s c u s s i o n i n Cabinet on 17 F e b r u a r y (CM(77) 6th C o n c l u s i o n s , Minute 1, C o n c l u s i o n 2) a g r o u p of M i n i s t e r s h a s m e t u n d e r m y c h a i r m a n s h i p to c o n s i d e r t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of the r u l i n g by the H o u s e of L o r d s E x a m i n e r s that the A i r c r a f t and Shipbuilding I n d u s t r i e s B i l l i s h y b r i d i n r e s p e c t of the chip r e p a i r i n g c o m p a n i e s s c h e d u l e d for n a t i o n a l i s a t i o n (a c o p y of t h e r u l i n g i s at A n n e x A ) . 2. T h e Standing O r d e r s C o m m i t t e e of the H o u s e of L o r d s m e e t s on 23 F e b r u a r y to d e c i d e w h e t h e r to d i s p e n s e with the Standing O r d e r s on p r i o r a d v e r t i s e m e n t of i n t r o d u c t i o n of a p r i v a t e B i l l etc w h i c h would n o r m a l l y apply to a h y b r i d B i l l . If the C o m m i t t e e should d e c i d e that t h e s e Standing O r d e r s should not be d i s p e n s e d with the H o u s e of L o r d s would be u n a b l e to P r o c e e d to a S e c o n d R e a d i n g of the B i l l and i t c o u l d i m m e d i a t e l y b e s u b m i t t e d for R o y a l A s s e n t u n d e r t h e P a r l i a m e n t A c t s . If, a s i s m o r e l i k e l y , the C o m m i t t e e d e c i d e that t h i s Standing O r d e r about p r i o r n o t i c e should be d i s p e n s e d with t h e B i l l w i l l go to S e c o n d R e a d i n g and if p a s s e d would i n the n o r m a l way go to a S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e w h e r e o b j e c t o r s to i t s p a s s a g e could p r e s e n t their c a s e . T h e r e i s l i t t l e p r o s p e c t of g e t t i n g t h e L o r d s to p a s s a Motion d i s p e n s i n g with t h e S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e p r o c e d u r e without s o m e G o v e r n m e n t c o n c e s s i o n s and an a t t e m p t to do so c o u l d r e s u l t in a h u m i l i a t i n g d e f e a t . T h e e f f e c t i v e c h o i c e for the G o v e r n m e n t i s between:­ a. A l l o w i n g the B i l l to p r o c e e d t h r o u g h the S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e p r o c e d u r e and p a s s i n g i t u n d e r the P a r l i a m e n t A c t s when i t e m e r g e s , which p r o b a b l y m e a n s a t t h e end of the S e s s i o n . b. S e e k i n g a d e a l u n d e r w h i c h the G o v e r n m e n t would a g r e e to d r o p f r o m the B i l l t h e ship r e p a i r i n g c o m p a n i e s (but not t h e ship r e p a i r i n g i n t e r e s t s of t h e shipbuilding c o m p a n i e s ) i n r e t u r n for a c l e a r c o m m i t m e n t f r o m the O p p o s i t i o n i n both H o u s e s that t h e y would a l l o w t h e r e m a i n d e r of the B i l l to p r o c e e d i m m e d i a t e l y to R o y a l A s s e n t without further d e l a y o r a m e n d m e n t . 1 C o u r s e b. would, if a l l g o e s s m o o t h l y and the L o r d s s p e e d up t h e i r u s u a l p r o c e d u r e s , p r o b a b l y r e s u l t i n R o y a l A s s e n t by E a s t e r o r s o o n a f t e r , s a v i n g about s i x m o n t h s c o m p a r e d with c o u r s e a. 3. The m a i n factors affecting this choice a r e : ­ a. I n d u s t r i a l c o n s e q u e n c e s of d e l a y . The S e c r e t a r y of State for I n d u s t r y ' s a s s e s s m e n t i s at A n n e x B . T h e m a i n r i s k s of d e l a y a r i s e i n the a i r c r a f t i n d u s t r y w h e r e t h e a b s e n c e of a s i n g l e body a b l e to speak with a u t h o r i t y on behalf of both t h e B r i t i s h A i r c r a f t C o r p o r a t i o n and Hawker S i d d e l e y c o u l d p r e j u d i c e the c o n c l u s i o n of c o l l a b o r a t i v e a r r a n g e m e n t s with o v e r s e a s c o m p a n i e s p a r t i c u l a r l y Boeing. H o w e v e r , t h e r e i s no c e r t a i n t y that n e g o t i a t i o n s on the c o l l a b o r a t i v e p r o j e c t s w i l l c o m e to a h e a d i n t h e n e x t s i x m o n t h s . D e l a y would c a u s e s o m e l o n g - t e r m d a m a g e to the shipbuilding i n d u s t r y but t h e p o l i c y d e c i s i o n s w h i c h C a b i n e t took on 17 F e b r u a r y (CM(77) 6th C o n c l u s i o n s , Minute 3 ) and the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the n e w holding c o m p a n y for t h e G o v e r n m e n t s h a r e h o l d i n g s i n t h e i n d u s t r y should a v o i d s e r i o u s and i m m e d i a t e d a m a g e . D e l a y could p r e c i p i t a t e t h e c l o s u r e of s o m e ship r e p a i r e r s ; but so c o u l d t h e i r exclusion from the B i l l . b. I m p l i c a t i o n s of the Hybridity R u l i n g . The E x a m i n e r s have gone w e l l beyond t h e i r t a s k of s a y i n g w h e t h e r the Standing O r d e r s a p p l i c a b l e to p r i v a t e B i l l s should apply t o t h e A i r c r a f t and Shipbuilding I n d u s t r i e s B i l l . C e r t a i n a s p e c t s of t h e i r r u l i n g ­ n o t a b l y t h e i r v i e w that to define w h i c h c o m p a n i e s a r e to be n a t i o n a l i s e d by r e f e r e n c e to t h e i r t o t a l t u r n o v e r , i n c l u d i n g t u r n o v e r o u t s i d e ship r e p a i r i n g , i n i t s e l f c a u s e s h y b r i d i t y - could h a v e s e r i o u s i m p l i c a t i o n s for future l e g i s l a t i o n ( p a r t i c u l a r l y n a t i o n a l i s a t i o n B i l l s ) . T h e E x a m i n e r s ' r u l i n g i s on the r e c o r d ; but i f w e d e c i d e to s e e k a d e a l i t s h o u l d be p o s s i b l e to p r e s e n t our d e c i s i o n a s r e c o g n i s i n g that the E x a m i n e r s ' r u l i n g i s d e c i s i v e in t h i s c a s e without n e c e s s a r i l y a c c e p t i n g t h e a r g u m e n t s on w h i c h that r u l i n g i s b a s e d . c. Parliament Act. Annex C d e s c r i b e s the position under the Parliament Acts. T h e m a i n q u e s t i o n i s w h e t h e r , if w e d e c i d e to p r o c e e d u n d e r t h o s e A c t s , w e could, s h o u l d w e h a v e l o s t our C o m m o n s m a j o r i t y b e f o r e t h e end of the S e s s i o n , s u b m i t the B i l l for R o y a l A s s e n t without f u r t h e r v o t e s i n the C o m m o n s . T h e r e i s no r e q u i r e m e n t u n d e r the P a r l i a m e n t A c t s for the C o m m o n s to c o n s i d e r a n y a m e n d m e n t s which the H o u s e of L o r d s n o w m a k e to t h e B i l l and i t c o u l d be s u b m i t t e d for R o y a l A s s e n t a t the end of the S e s s i o n without s u c h c o n s i d e r a t i o n . It i s p o s s i b l e for the C o m m o n s t o d i r e c t that the P a r l i a m e n t A c t s should not b e i n v o k e d but t h e r e i s no o b l i g a t i o n on the G o v e r n m e n t to p r o v i d e t i m e for s u c h a Motion and t h e o f f i c i a l s of t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s h a v e a d v i s e d i n f o r m a l l y that s u c h a Motion would not be i n o r d e r on a Supply d a y . However the 2 p o s s i b i l i t y of further v o t e s i n t h e C o m m o n s cannot be e n t i r e l y e x c l u d e d ; and i t c o u l d be p o l i t i c a l l y e m b a r r a s s i n g to s u b m i t the B i l l for R o y a l A s s e n t without t h e C o m m o n s having v o t e d on any (It would a l w a y s b e o p e n to the O p p o s i t i o n Lords amendments. to t a b l e a Motion of c e n s u r e ; but d e f e a t of the G o v e r n m e n t on that would h a v e i m p l i c a t i o n s going beyond the A i r c r a f t and Shipbuilding Industries Bill). 1 d. Political factors. Many m e m b e r s of the P a r l i a m e n t a r y Labour P a r t y and of t h e Labour P a r t y i n the c o u n t r y a r e l i k e l y t o r e a c t s t r o n g l y a g a i n s t a d e c i s i o n to drop the ship r e p a i r i n g c o m p a n i e s f r o m the B i l l . T h e y would s e e i t a s a s u r r e n d e r to the H o u s e of L o r d s and to B a i l e y ' s c a m p a i g n . T h e C o n f e d e r a t i o n of Shipbuilding and E n g i n e e r i n g U n i o n s h a v e t o l d the P r i m e M i n i s t e r that t h e y would r e l u c t a n t l y a c q u i e s c e in the dropping of the ship r e p a i r i n g c o m p a n i e s if the G o v e r n m e n t d e c i d e d that w a s n e c e s s a r y to s e c u r e a s p e e d y p a s s a g e for the r e s t of the B i l l . To continue u n d e r the P a r l i a m e n t A c t and then l o s e t h e B i l l at t h e end of the S e s s i o n would of c o u r s e be a s t i l l m o r e d a m a g i n g p o l i t i c a l d e f e a t . CONCLUSIONS 4. T h e m a j o r i t y of the Group v e r y r e l u c t a n t l y took the v i e w that t h e i n d u s t r i a l c o n s e q u e n c e s of d e l a y and t h e p o l i t i c a l r i s k s of p r o c e e d i n g u n d e r the P a r l i a m e n t A c t s m a d e i t n e c e s s a r y to t r y and do a d e a l with t h e O p p o s i t i o n on the l i n e s s u g g e s t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 2b. T h e r e w a s no c e r t a i n t y that t h e O p p o s i t i o n would be r e a d y for such a d e a l - t h e d e c i s i o n would be taken by the Shadow C a b i n e t a s a w h o l e . An i m p o r t a n t m i n o r i t y of the Group, h o w e v e r , had r e s e r v a t i o n s about t h i s c o u r s e . 5. Cabinet a r e a s k e d to d e c i d e whether to a u t h o r i s e an e x p l o r a t i o n of the p o s s i b i l i t i e s of a d e a l with the O p p o s i t i o n u n d e r which the ship r e p a i r i n g c o m p a n i e s would be d e l e t e d f r o m the A i r c r a f t and Shipbuilding I n d u s t r i e s B i l l in r e t u r n for c l e a r c o m m i t m e n t s f r o m the O p p o s i t i o n in both H o u s e s to a l l o w t h e r e m a i n d e r of the B i l l to p a s s q u i c k l y . If Cabinet d e c i d e in favour of s u c h e x p l o r a t i o n s the t a c t i c s of t h e a p p r o a c h to the O p p o s i t i o n w i l l n e e d to be c a r e f u l l y c o n s i d e r e d by the m a n a g e r s of G o v e r n m e n t b u s i n e s s in both H o u s e s i n c o n s u l t a t i o n with the S e c r e t a r y of State for Industry. M F P r i v y Council Office 22 F e b r u a r y 1977 3 AIRCRAFT We by Mr. Act h a v e S p e a k e r b a s e d t h a t P u b l i c p r i v a t e t h e This d e f i n i t i o n , have b e e n an s h o u l d S i l l the w i l l some means h y b r i d on the B i l l 3ILL w e l l - k n o w n f o r by a B i l l a f f e c t d e f e n c e d e f e n c e w i l l t h e s t a t e m e n t London Government e a c h P u b l i c h i s him. a g a i n s t a g a i n s t d o c t r i n e of f o r a the Crown. d e f e n c e has been o f a d v e r s e was m i g h t h y b r i d i t y C o m m i t t e e d e s i g n e d and U n l e s s t h a t i t an t r e a t m e n t p r o v i s i o n s l e g i s l a t u r e ; a g a i n s t w h a t P a r l i a m e n t S e l e c t t h o s e d o c t r i n e the i n d i c a t e s t h e t o o r c l a s s . " House c a u s e The o r B i l l as from p e r s o n s v a l u e , t h a t d e f i n e d p a r t i c u l a r d i f f e r e n t o t h e r f a c e be a manner of of o r c a n c a t e g o r y i t s p l e a d t h e a o b v i o u s , t h e o u t B i l l a f f e c t s i n same a t be t o a g a i n s t ininority times of a l l o w e d t h a t t h e t o s i n g l e d be P e t i t i o n of t h e to g i v e t h a t "is on i n a t h e modern t h a t , i t n o t h i n g . s Y e t f l i n g s , t h e Mr. *S p e a k e r K l i n e s , i t h i s f i r s t P p l y i n g £very b o d i e s t h e o r I s -bc-dies. h y b r i d s yc-Ur " e c r i g h t o r body b o d i e s a member o n t h e o r Mr. i s and T h e r e f o r e , of t o and t h e R u l i n g . c a l l H y l t o n - F o s t e r c a t e g o r y t h a t b e f o r e , e r o d e d by two s e c o n d B e f o r e S p e a k e r s ' g i v e n a f t e r , d i s c u s s i n g t h e s e c p e r s o n P e r s o n s g i v e n H y l t o n - F o s t e r ' s i s a on i n t e x - e s t t a k e n e x p r e s s i o n i n d i v i d u a l l INDUSTRIES i n q u i r y w h i c h i n t e r e s t o f t h o u g h t a B i l l p r i v a t e b o d i e s a o u r H y l t o n - F o s t e r t h i n k a i SHIPBUILDING 1 9 6 3 : "I I s AND o f a d e f i n i t i o n member e v e r y a the a t t e n t i o n w i d e r S p e a k e r t o the any or o r on o r of c l a s s t h e B i l l , c l a s s o f p e r s o n s o f p e r s o n s w h e t h e r d e p e n d s we o f p a r t i c u l a r q u e s t i o n R u l i n g s C l i f t o n - B r o w n d i f f i c u l t y c l a s s d e f i n i t i o n two t h e c a t e g o r y c a t e g o r y a n s w e r The t o a c a t e g o r y H y l t o n - F o s t e r c l a s s . of t o h a v e B i l l on a w h e r e r e f e r r e d f o r t h e or or B i l l y o u - e r a t o I r o n and S t e e l A c t t h e I r o n t h e c a t e g o r y t h e P r o m o t e r s and 1949 and t h a t S t e e l Act 1 9 6 7 . o r o f s u b j e c t a g a i n s t d r a w i n g a v i c t i m s and t h e f r o m i n h e r e n t l y o f t h o s e - s e c u r i t i e s s u c h O f f i c e r s of h y b r i d , t o s a y t h e d i f f e r e n t c o m p a n i e s and a r e named t h e i n n o t P a r t i s t h a t t h e t o t h a t of and We L o r d s i s and and o f we t h a t by of the by h i s Mr. f e l l o w o w n e r s h i p f o r m a l l y i f t h e King BiH t h e l i g i s t h e . i f a from b e c a u s e bound by we as d e c i s i o n s b e c a u s e Houses a i t w o u l d be* d e v e l o p e d h y b r i d i t y . a n s w e r we Part o r company I t h e t o us t o t h e f i n d a r i d t h a t t h i s q u e s t i o n s B i l l the Second S c h e d u l e c l a s s s e t o u t P a r t I I o f c a t e g o r y or c l a s s w i t h i n I t h a t and B i l l i s i n Part I I h y b r i d . of t h e T h i s i s w h e t h e r o f P a r t o u t - f r o m (b) I n i t s i f P a r t a I I c o m p a n i e s n o t company c a t e g o r y a l l o f or own i s c l a s s named or w i t h i n w h o s e i n P a r t members I t o t h e t h a t i s a l l the B i l l are S c h e d u l e i s Second n o t S c h e d u l e ' b e c a u s e a r e I but i s P a r t I I , i t c l a s s ; named w i t h i n o u t s i d e i s s i n g l e ^ c l a s s d e f i n e " and c a t e g o r y n o t a r e P a r t i n t h e n e v e r t h e l e s s named i n d e f i n e d c a t e g o r y company i s c d e s c r i b e d t ­ ( a ) h w h o s e n o t b u t two i n s e l e c t i o n p r o h i b i t e d , Commons, S p e a k e r c a n n o t a p r o h i b i t e d I n d u s t r i e s c o m p a n i e s i t s e l f a r e o f as I f t h a t p u b l i c a r e House of s a y i t o p e n c o n g r u e n t , t u r n e d S h i p b u i l d i n g c l a s s i n t o s t i l l I . be C l i f t o n - B r o w n i n c o n v e n i e n t i n any i s d e f e n c e s e f f e c t i v e l y t h a t t h e c a t e g o r y w h e t h e r named o f i s can for s e l e c t e d o u r s e l v e s t a k e n House a c c o r d i n g w i t h i n be d o c t r i n e s I t h y b r i d f i n d l e a s t , t h e them c o n c e i v e c o m p a n i e s . S p e a k e r s w o r d s , one B i l l e l s e . A i r c r a f t t h e t h e o f him t h e o f b o t h t h e c o m p r i s e s t h a t t h e i s on t h a t S p e a k e r o f o t h e r King o f i l l - t r e a t m e n t c l a s s p a r t i c u l a r i t y c l a s s I n Mr. t o e f f e c t r e l e v a n t o f a r e S p e a k e r The B i l l . t h e r e f o r e R u l i n g s Mr. i s s e l e c t i v e R u l i n g s is w i d e r t h e n o b o d y f i n d i n g w i t h t h a t c a t e g o r y - o r We by c l a s s o f i n a s u b j e c t e d CONFIDENTIAL o r P a r t I , c a t e g o r y t o t h e o r c l a s s n a t i o n a l ! z a t i 0 1 1 , We d e a l l a t e r o r c l a s s to t h e w i t h o t h e r l i s t t h e a i r c r a f t T h i s i s f a r to " c e r t a i n as t h e t h e t h e t w e l v e s h i p r e p a i r i n g a r e on B i l l c o m p a n i e s , l i s t f u l f i l If5 t h e r e f o r e , we b u t t h e w i t h o u t s h o u l d be Or as It was o n l y t h a t t h e t h a t c l a s s t h e by 1 i s c a n the of a p p r o p r i a t e K i n g ' s h y b r i d , i n I I a s of hope t o by s t u d y "group a of o f t o Second t o t h e B i l l , t r e a t t h e i n l o n g t i t l e i n d u s t r y . S c h e d u l e to i n t h e How B i l l t i g h t p a r a g r a p h s and s we d e s c r i b e d h y b r i d i t y . c o m p a n i e s " t h e e n g a g e d i n t h o s e c o m p a n i e s . a c c o u n t , w e r e t h a t c o m p a n i e s c o m p a n i e s by s h i p r e p a i r i n g o f a s H y l t o n - F o s t e r ' " c o m p a n i e s a v o i d n i n e t y p u b l i c s u c h i n t o we as f a r t h e i n t o p r o p o s e d R u l i n g t i g h t t h e t h e S c h e d u l e S p e a k e r m e n t i o n e d t h e i s s h i p b u i l d i n g w h e t h e r the. so s h i p r e p a i r i n g n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n c l a s s s e e n Mr. r e f e r s and, t h a t b r i n g a p p r o p r i a t e a p p l y i n d u s t r y . B i l l Out Second o f n a t i o n a l i z e e x c l u s i v e l y w o u l d more S c h e d u l e e n g a g e d P a r t of s i x t o t h e and a l m o s t t h e i n d u s t r i e s " a o f s e l e c t i v e . i n c o m p r i s i n g i s i n d u s t r i e s , B i l l about t o i t c o u l d be o f b e f o r e h y b r i d . i ( b ) c a t e g o r y and " s u b s i d i a r y " i n 5 6 ( 1 ) . a p p e a r e d many 3 Government One i s as d e v i s i n g d e f i n i t i o n s C l a u s e f i n d t h o s e and i s a s h i p b u i l d i n g t i t l e b e e n t h e S p e a k e r a l l i e d c o m p r i s i n g P a r a g r a p h s of t o and t h a t B i l l c o n c e r n e d , c r i t e r i a f r e e Mr. c l a s s " s h i p b u i l d i n g I I t h e t h o s e has t h a t t h e were t a k i n g or i s named and i n and n o t a b l y s h i p r e p a i r i n g f o r c e d " c a t e g o r y i s t h e l o n g i n c o m p a n i e s , p r e s u m a b l y t o e n g a g e d i n d u s t r y and r u l i n g P a r t t h a t The c o m p a n i e s t h e i n industr-y e x a m i n a t i o n s h i p r e p a i r i n g w h i c h s u p p o s e d t r u t h . c o m p a n i e s " our s u g g e s t i o n I. w i d e l y from w i t h , o w n e r s h i p d e s c r i b e d m a n u f a c t u r i n g t h a t c o n c e r n e d s o P a r t i s G o v e r n m e n t ' s t h a t s h i p r e p a i r i n g i n d u s t r y o r t h a n i n I t t h e (whom the main us i n we s h a l l s u p p o r t s h i p o w n i n g c o m p a n i e s o f of P a r t c r i t e r i a " c o m p a n i e s , i n I I i n t h e of r e f e r 3 of the t o f i t t e d S c h e d u l e p a r a g r a p h t h a t a r g u m e n t s a d v a n c e d p r o p o s i t i o n a s " t h e t h e as d e s c r i p t i o n P a r t the^OEMBDSNJJAiinong t h o s e t h a t who t h e M e m o r i a l i s t s " ) c o m p a n i e s t h a t by t h a t as o t h e r i n B i l l was t h a t p a r a g r a p h " f u l f i l l e d ' s h i p r e p a i r i n g c r i t e r i a , that of being engaged on the 31st July, 1974, in the business of repairing, refitting or maintaining ships in spite of the fact that the ships were their own resisted this contention- The Government has all along In his answer of 14th October 1976, to a question asked by Lord Colville of Culross, Lord Peart said: "The Government are satisfied that a person who does repair or other work only for himself, such as a shipowner carrying out his own repairs or maintaining his own ships, is not 'engaged in the business of repairing, refitting or maintaining ships . A good analogy would be a hotel company which launders its own linen; no-one would say this would make the company into a company engaged in the. laundry business." 1 It was pointed out to us that the hotel analogy would have been better had it said "would make the company into a company engaged in the business of laundering linen." We are thus invited to find that the Bill is hybrid because, although the shipowning companies are for the most p a r t not within the list of shiprepairing companies contained in Part I of the Second Schedule they fulfil the conditions in Part II of that Schedule. This issue, above all, shows the unreality and artificiality of what we have been enquiring i n t 0. We are aware that Mr. Speaker King, in ruling that the Bill o r f the Iron and Steel Act 1967 was not hybrid, declined to specula on the reason why the class devised for that Bill was selecteo, but in the case before us there was no occasion to speculate because both Mr. Gamon, the Government Agent, and Mr. McDonaldj whom he called as a witness from the Department of Indus try, It abundantly clear that from the beginning the Government wa aiming, not at the shiprepairing industry, but at a. careful selected list of companies engaged in that industry. The £ of Hybridity was, therefore, immediately apparent, and we a entitled to assume that Parliamentary Counsel endeavoured to draft Part II of the Second Schedule so as to enable the Government to avoid hybridity by availing itself of Mr. S p rr\ KicincMTi a i Ccl * K i n g ' s i n t o R u l i n g , w h i c h e x c e p t The t h a t t h e t h o s e was t h e p a s t ; b e c a u s e t h e r i g h t o f b e f o r e t h e r i g h t s C o u n s e l i n e x a c t l y t h e t h a t P a r t B i l l , a q u a l i f i c a t i o n , p u r p o s e s a r e n o t named q u e s t i o n we a r t i f i c i a l t h e i r P a r t own I I o f s t r o n g l y framed t h o s e who t h e S c h e d u l e by r e f e r e n c e l ^ b ) o f f i n d t h a t I f u l f i l m o s t t o P a r t t o o f many the as B i l l by the t i t l e t h e o r l i s t t o o f w h i c h b u s i n e s s " o f To of r e p a i r e d s h i p s t h a t t h e y n o t r e g a r d t o Sugar L i n e w e r e t h e L t d . , c a s e i s own an t h e Clyde wSONWSXG^TSM f o r t h o s e t h a t i s a n s w e r n o t i s r e p a i r 3 ( l ) ( a ) o f Mr. o f t h o s e w i l l i n d i d Gamon who i n t e n t i o n l a n g u a g e c o m p a n i e s t h e t h e s h i p o w n i n g B i l l t h e c o m p a n i e s w h i c h The t h e t h e of c o m p a n i e s a c h i e v e o f n o t p a r a g r a p h P a r t I. r e p a i r We t h e i r \ own - t h i s t h a t s h i p s t h e w e r e e v e n l y s o " e n g a g e d of w h e t h e r i n t e n t i o n c o m p a n i e s from t h e i r r e p a i r i n g f i n d "having f o l l o w s t u r n o v e r c o m p a n i e s . e x c l u d e o r i g i n a l c o m p a n i e s . p a r a g r a p h c o u r s e , e v i d e n c e t h e t h e c o m p a n i e s nowhere". .. c o m p a n i e s t o us o f on But h a v e i n had o f b e c a u s e l e a d s t o we c o v e r II c o m p a n i e s t h e was I s t a g e t o s h i p o w n i n g i t and r e g a r d s h i p s . W h e t h e r P a r t s q u e s t i o n s h i p r e p a i r i n g t h i s , l o n g b u t c r i t e r i a i t s P a r l i a m e n t a r y S c h e d u l e . s h i p o w n i n g p l e a d o f and "No" we t o r e m a r k a b l e , s u c c e s s i n d i v i d u a l i s i f Government c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n d e e d t h e o t h e r s any B i l l t o What t h i s and o f and c l a s s n o o t h e r on s h i p r e p a i r i n g t h e Have t h e I I , t h a t o r c o m p a n i e s . t a c t i c s n o t t h e d r a f t a n s w e r t h e b u t them; on t u r n a l s o t h e s h i p s o r the we w h e t h e r B i l l ; d e p e n d s , b u t a s c o m p a n i e s e x c l u d e o r q u e s t i o n u s t w e l v e S c h e d u l e a n s w e r . framed of the t o u r g e d t h e s u c h admit P a r t h a v e of e f f e c t t h i s , q u a l i f i c a t i o n B i l l , i n do d r y - d o c k a r e b u t t o i n c o m p a n i e s f i t t e d , e n t i t l e d c o m p a n i e s ; when t h e be c a t e g o r y s h i p b u i l d i n g t h e M o r e o v e r , o f c o u l d a of of a l t e r e d t o d e v i s i n g l i s t s u b j e c t , t w e l v e t h e by Committee d r a f t i n g on s h i p o w n i n g any the was t h e the S e l e c t same II b o t h but of s o i n f u l l y of s a y , c o m p a n i e s i n c l u d e d i n c a u s e t o t w e l v e Government h a v e i s end " e n g a g e d b a l a n c e d i n v o l v e s Wharf s h i p o w n i n g of March t h e q u e s t i o n . some L i m i t e d , i n a 1 9 7 3 a b s u r d i t y s u b s i d i a r y w a s r e p a i r i n g C l y d e s h i p s Wharf s e c t i o n b e l o n g i n g c e a s e d t o Sugar t o u s e d Wharf c e r t a i n l y Can w a s I n t r a n s f e r Sugar i t s b u s i n e s s m a i n f i n d t h a t , c o n n o t e s in t h e M a i l L i n e r s t h e r u l e or s m a l l The f i v e t o s u g g e s t e d in t h e c a s e /yll b e to f i v e t h e i r own a A t h e l , i n c l u d e d s h i p o w n e r m a n a g e m e n t , demands w i t h i t s t u r n o v e r t h e t o t h e y manager in t h e b u s i n e s s o f Is t h e m a n a g i n g company b u s i n e s s in t h e of m a i n t a i n i n g ? as of W i t h them r s and s h i p s m a n a g i n g some can and i t the d i f f i c u l t y , n o t and and, be s e a i s because? i n t h e Do Dry "ships t h u s a as an as e l e m e n t i s "engaS i n s h i p be b u s i n e s s o f r e p a i r i n g t o 5 t h e t o come ot. o c c a s i o n e n g a g e d CONFIDENTIAL w i t h t h a t . c o n t r a c t s m a i n t a i n i n g have c 1 l , c S s t r o n g s a i d we to c o m p a n i e s , e q u i p m e n t or a s u b m i t t e d managed them 1 b e c a u s e M a n c h e s t e r i s As a t b u t was and, r e p a i r maintai s h i p r e p a i r e r s . L t d . , n e v e r t h e l e s s o r t o s h i p . B i l l , company r e f i t t i n g t h e n by i t There w o r k f o r c e t h e S n a e m p l o y e e s t h e i r s h i p s , m a n a g i t h a t s h i p r e p a i r i n g r e p a i r e d r e p a i r i n g , m a n a g i n g b u s i n e s s B i l l h i s s T L t d . , w e r e m a n a g e r t h e r e q u i r e d a L i n e t o l d out: have e v i d e n t M a n c h e s t e r w e r e ( S h i p b u i l d e r s ) t h a t more w h i c h w o u l d , e q u i p m e n t . p r o f i t . r e l e v a n t , i n a f t e r b u s i n e s s A t h e l r e p a i r a r e be i n i s t h e c a r r i e d t u r n o v e r p r o p o s i t i o n m a n a g e r Ltd. s h i p s . n e v e r t h e l e s s , t r a d i n g m a n a g e r above s o m e t i m e s m a i n t a i n the are the and the We, L t d . , t o C l y d e b u s i n e s s ' b e c a u s e as We him by w o u l d i n t o s u c h s h o u l d R i c h a r d s w o r k f o r c e f o r done a and r e p a i r i n g e n g a g e d r e q u i r e s r e q u i r e s of p r o f i t c o m p a n i e s . m e n t i o n e d c o m p a n i e s a r g u m e n t w i t h o f be & A l b i o n r e p a i r s t h a t t o make, p l a n t i m m e d i a t e l y s h i p s ? 1973, s h i p r e p a i r i n g t r a n s f e r t h a t B r o t h e r s i n v a r i a b l y a r e r e q u i r e d t h e i r L t d . j S a v i l l l a r g e r w a s c a s e s , H o u l d e r g e n e r a l l y i n t r a d i n g of i t s t h e of t o March w o r k f o r c e , t h a t companies o t h e r c o m p a n i e s h a v e of Shaw - it us, e l e m e n t r e p a i r s p o r t ; in a t t e m p t i n g c o n t r a c t and owning 3 1 s t b u s i n e s s engaged p a r l a n c e , L t d . , b e l o n g i n g s h i p the c a s e L i n e s management h e l d t h e L t d . , a n d s h i p s be or a n a l o g o u s R o y a l r e a s o n a b l y n o t the B e f o r e the o r d i n a r y But w i t h i n was On t r a n s f e r r e d s e c t i o n . was making, L i n e . e n g a g e d L i n e in and t o g e t h e r t h a t t h e r e f o r e it Sugar t r a d e Line, m a c h i n e r y t o t e n g a g e d t h e o t 1 c o n c l u s i o n t h a t manager t h e b u s i n e s s I n w a s I t Company, was t h o u g h e n g a g e d n o t of I I o n l y o t h e r g e n e r a l i n t h e i t s S c h e d u l e own s h i p s c o m p a n i e s . m a n a g e r t h e s e t e r m s H a r b o u r You h a v e F o r many t o r e g u l a r l y i n n o t w e be o f some owned s h i p s w e i n i t o f o r 3 ( l ) ( a ) o f 7 : e p a i r i n g b u t company a l s o w r o t e P r e s t o n M e r s e y m a i n t a i n a t s h i p s t o t h e A u t h o r i t y Docks a n d D r y d o c k s . o u r o w n Bromborough v i r t u a l l y v e s s e l s a n d on o f t o h a v e make b e e n o u t u t i l i s a t i o n , N o . 3 d o c k , h i r i n g t h e i r maximum f o r t h i s a l l o w y o u r u s e u s t o d o c k r e p a i r s , o f r e a s o n v e s s e l s t h e own o u r we q u o t e a r e f o r w h i c h d r y d o c k L i v e r p o o l . t h i n k a l s o u s i n g c a p a c i t y . c a r r y i s m o n o p o l i s e d a n d t h i s v e s s e l s y o u w o u l d h a v e t h a t , a p a r t a n d p a r t s a c c u m u l a t e d a n d hope k n o w l e d g e , from o u r ( p e c u l i a r a g r e a t t o d e a l t h e r e f o r e .we m a y a s s i s t a n c e . " from J u n e o r c h a r t e r e d s h i p s t o I t l i k e t h e b e t w e e n o f l i k e P o r t a t b e l o n g i n g d i s p u t e number w a s o o f- m a t e r i a l s s p e c i a l i s e d t h e s p a r e w h o a l s o t h e w o u l d have 707 a n d r e p a i r s o f " c e r t a i n l y P o r t from May 1 9 7 2 we a l s o s t o c k s Company 1 9 7 2 , t h e b o t h p a r t y a b o u t a s k i f d r e d g e r s ) , The p a r a g r a p h b y D r e d g i n g S c h e d u l e , r e f i t t i n g c h a r t e r e d t h a t w e f a c i l i t i e s . d r y d o c k i n g We S e c o n d w a s e n g a g e d own own v e s s e l s t h i r d 1 s t w o u l d w o r k s h o p l a r g e o f t h e s h i p s . t h e W e s t m i n s t e r t h e t h e d r y d o c k s . y e a r s w i t h S i n c e w r i t i n g o f i n v o l v e N o . l a n d N o . 3 B i r k e n h e a d know f o r w i t h u s w e i t n o t r e p a i r i n g r e p a i r i n g , becaxise b o t h s h i p r e p a i r e r s b u t o r o f t h e m e a n i n g n o w l e a s e d t h e d r y d o c k l e a v e s I o f o u r w o r k s h o p s t o t o g e t h e r P a r t d o e s : u t i l i s i n g N o . l t h a t a n d s h i p s p r o b a b l y a d j a c e n t , i n u s On 7 t h June Company w i l l t o a n d e n g i n e e r "We t o l i s t e d w i t h i n "of s h i p s m a i n t a i n i n g t h e b u s i n e s s s h i p s o f o f s u b m i t t e d n o t i n m a i n t a i n i n g P a r t t h e management e n d o f t o t h e 1 9 7 2 u n t i l J u l y o r a b o u t May 1 9 7 5 , a n d 1 9 7 4 , r e p a i r i n g managed P r e s t o n b y P o r t t h e M e m o r i a l i s t s and t h e s h i p s company A u t h o r i t y . t h e repaired^jCjfiUtsiders t h a t i n c l u d i n g T h e r e Government d u r i n g w e r e t h i s i s some a b o u t p e r i o d . t h e We a f i n d t h a t s m a l l p o r t i o n o f d r e d g i n g i n t h e and t o f r o m e i g h t . e n d e d work t o t h e u n d e r t a k e n December for- 1975 of 1 9 7 4 , company was c o n s i s t s t h e was s o o u t s i d e work w h i c h t u r n o v e r December of r e p a i r b u s i n e s s , The 3 1 s t t u r n o v e r T h i s t o t a l r e c l a m a t i o n . t h e 1972 o r c o m p a n y ' s y e a r r e p a i r May s e v e n t h e l a n d w h e r e a s r e l a t e d w e r e o f f i n a n c i a l m i l l i o n , was t h e r e company £ 2 1 f a r a s i t c o m p a n i e s i n c l u s i v e n o t more t h a n £ 4 7 , 3 0 5 . - * I t Company t o L t d . , the . P a r t o f o n e of w a s n o t S c h e d u l e . a t i m e i n s e l e c t t h e o f p a r e n t d i r e c t o r s t h a t i s o l a t i o n a p p e a r e d p a r a g r a p h 3 had no d o u b t c o m p a n i e s t h o s e i n w i t h i n t h e P a r t t e n u o u s t h e A and I ; b u t o f and e n t i r e l y a t h a t I I o f same t h e g r o u p t h e d e p e n d e d s u b c o n t r a c t e d n o t e m e e t i n g d i r e c t o r s c o n t r a c t s ; on by Mr. 1 0 t h s u g g e s t s b u t we the engaged t o Walker i t was of A p r i l London the t h e r e h a v e no may t h e p a r e n t w i t h Dock D e p a r t m e n t t h e h a v e t h e i r CONFIDENTIAL 0 Government House company i n t n e was w h i c h V R e p a i r s I n d u s t r y o t h e r i^-^' t h e s h i p s D e p a r t m e n t b e e n a b o u t of e Govc^ntf f u l f t h e S h i p t h t h e company T r i n i t y G r a v i n g e v i d e n c e and p a r e n t m a i n t a i n i n g 1 9 7 5 . b e t w e e n t h a t l i s t of 1 i n b e t w e e n by n i n b u f - t h e c o m p a n i e s o whethc v i e w s p e c i f i e d d e c i d e d t h e o r d o u b t s h i p r e p a i r i n g t o c o n t r a c t of i n t h e Government s u b s i d i a r y n e g o t i a t i o n s d i r e c t o r s a two w h i c h of' t h e the S c h e d u l e ; of n a t i o n a l ! z a t i s e r i o u s was 3 i n m o s t f o r I t i t s S c h e d u l e S h i p b o t h i n c r i t e r i a r e f i t t i n g cn f o r Dock company, Dock when n o r y e a r h o l d i n g h a s w e r e S e c o n d t h e a G r a v i n g p a r a g r a p h G r a v i n g Second i n v o l v e m e n t r e p a i r i n g , a s 1975 p r o l o n g e d t h e o f Government of the d i r e c t o r s , o f t h e p a r e n t t h e t h e i n company t o g e t h e r A f t e r o f s u b s i d i a r y . f u l f i l London c r i t e r i a c o m p a n i e s t h e taken a p p r o v a l b u s i n e s s I'td. P a r t c r i t e r i a . Government t o by i t s I London s p r i n g o r n e i t h e r o f w a s the P a r t p u r e l y p a r e n t t h e t h e company a c t i n g t h e t h a t the That s e l e c t e d the- d i r e c t o r s t o was Though one u s i n f u l f i l s u b s i d i a r i e s t h e to i n c l u d e d f e l l L t d . b e e n t h e r e and 1 9 7 4 w h o s e R e p a i r s t i m e . d i d t h a t J u l y s u b m i t t e d t h o u g h B i l l , I I 3 1 s t was and o t t h e . l o n g - t e r m c o n t e n t . 2 CONFjJ2£MI4AL The p a r e n t w h i c h t h e At i s c o m p a n y ^ t h a t e n d e d c o n s o l i d a t e d the' end o f 200 s h i p r e p a i r i n g , i t s 1 9 7 5 , i n t h e t h e y e a r p r a c t i c a l c o m p a n y ' s March b u t some 3 1 s t o v e r £5 and 1 9 7 3 t h e company c e a s e d i t s some f i x e d of f o r 3 1 s t i n c l u d i n g was was f i n a n c i a l company t u r n o v e r c o n t r a c t s 1 9 7 3 , r e l e v a n t t h e p e r s o n s work the o f r e t a i n e d w h i c h f o r March t u r n o v e r t h e s h i p r e p a i r i n g , e m p l o y e d t u r n o v e r whom t h e J u l y w e r e y e a r 1974, a d m i n i s t r a t i o n by w i t h Howie t o c a r r y e n g a g e d ended was o u t i t i n 3 1 s t work London b e i n g s u b s i d i a r i e s . Though f e l l , p e r f o r m e d m i l l i o n , i t s a s s e t s . y e a r , March n i l . on A l l t h e G r a v i n g p a r e n t Dock R e p a i r s . We d e a l S h i p r e p a i r e r s 1 9 7 4 i n L t d . e n g a g e d m a i n t a i n i n g i n Both t h e d o c k i n , Both o r w i t h i n a J . B . t h e s e b u s i n e s s s h i p s . p o s s e s s i o n gi*aving n e x t t h e The by d a t e d September C r i s p & C o . , 3 0 t h s o l i c i t o r s f i n a n c i a l y e a r " t r a d e W e s t e r n had q u a l i f i e d f o r £ 3 . 4 i s c o n d i t i o n and made a Company t h a t o f more and t h a n o f Howie "engaged m a i n t a i n i n g p a r a g r a p h t h e n a v y same i t s t h e s h i p s " 3 . t h e That of f i n a n c i a l company was t u r n o v e r c o u l d be b u t b u s i n e s s a s o n l y of r e q u i r e d i f , A s h u r s t , I n d u s t r y Ltd, t h a t had on on a t h a t g r o u p ; had a December M o r r i s , & r e f i t t i n ^ o ^ ^ ^ ^ p ^ ^ o y e r s 1 9 7 4 , w i t h and a the 1 9 7 4 a t u r n o v e r s 1972 i t o r ( l ) ( a ) c o n t r a c t 3 ( 1 ) ( c ) t u r n o v e r t h e r e f i t t i n g J u l y n e i t h e r b e l o n g e d subpai-agraphs 3 1 s t n o t and J u l y w i t h C r i s p d i d ( S h i p r e p a i r e r s ) W e s t e r n 3 1 s t M o r r i s , p a r a g r a p h 3 1 s t r e c k o n e d r e p a i r i n g , by by I I , " r e l e v a n t Howie s o y e a r and t h e 1 9 7 2 , on P a r t i n f o r m e d i n same a A s h u r s t , L a i r d t h e Howie if-, t h a t w h i c h w h i c h ( S h i p r e p a i r e r s ) f o r member i n t e r e s t o r was M e s s r s . Cammell an S c h e d u l e , £ 1 , 7 3 5 , 2 4 3 , t u r n o v e r J u l y o r d r y - d o c k December t o M e s s r s . o f Group, of 3 1 s t t o I n d u s t r y L a i r d r e l e v a n t Group W e s t e r n i n a a Second of 3 1 s t on e n t i t l e d from t a k e o v e r . h o w e v e r , m i l l i o n . t h e W e s t e r n r e f i t t i n g 1 9 7 6 , ended m i l l i o n f o r L a i r d of t u r n o v e r £5 Department L a i r d a t h e t h e and t h a t t h e w e r e occupy, Department t o i n a c c o r d i n g l y Was o f t h e w a s , company member o f L t d . i . e . were t o m e a n i n g 3 ( 1 ) ( b ) . and r e p a i r i n g , c o m p a n i e s p a r a g r a p h l e t t e r companies of l i c e n c e L t d . Co. and h a v e ( 2 ) ( b ) i n f o r m e d Cammell V e n e z u e l a n c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e P e r u v i a n Government f o r c o n t r a c t s t h e T h e s e two L a i r d ( S h i p r e p a i r e r s ) Ltd. had Group i n work on 1972 c o n t r a c t s and had i n f i x e d a s s e t s . Cammell Cammell same group L t d . r e f i t t i n g t u r n o v e r W e s t e r n may be E n g i n e e r i n g now owned o p e r a t e d managed H e l l y e r g r o u p . Humber f i n a n c i a l e n g a g e d In an Lord on P e a r t e n t i t l e d t h e p h r a s e must; be d r y - d o c k " hv nar­ by i n t h a t Humber t o a S t . the l i c e n c e s o m e t h i n g l e s s t h e a t o 3 ( l ) ( b ) the end of e n g a g e d i n Howie L t d . l i c e n c e o t h e r i n and "an o f on was t h e t o 1 4 t h i n (Hull) t h e same t o be r e p a i r i n g a ownc r e l e v a n t s h i p s - O c t o b e r who t h e di-y-dock. i n t e r e s t d r y - d o c k of a g r e e d d o i n g occupy was T r a w l e r s t h e was Hull L t d . Emerald B r o t h e r s , who occupy t h e 197? a t ( H u l l ) members b u s i n e s s H e l l y c r J u l y d r y - d o c k U n i t e d w e r e Lords Andrews 3 1 s t a and B r i t i s h of on i n t u r n o v e r t h e S t . 1976, b o o k e d r e p a i r What d r y - d o c k " 5 5 does mean. p o s s e s s i o n q u a l i f i c a t i o n the i n i m p o s e d CONFIDENTIAL o f the therefore * t h a t , T r a w l i e r s m i l l i o n than was L t d . ; a House 1 o/nw^s p a r a g r a p h t h e J u l y o f t h e J . B . Humber Emerald Andrews, t o i s i n of Andrews had n e i t h e r S t . 1972 of o f W e s t e r n and t h o s e o t h e r 3 1 s t member and . s h i p s , U n i t e d £ 3 . 4 " e n t i t l e d w h i c h t h e c o m p a n i e s , 1974 on m a r g i n a l l y company B r o t h e r s Andrews J u l y g i v e n s a i d was and e x c e e d i n g 3 1 s t n o r That Humber S t . y e a r a n s w e r d r y - d o c k , I t and s t i l l c a s e B r i t i s h t h r e e a no s u p e r v i s e t h a t December w i t h the Ltd. H e l l y e r The was i n t e r e s t d i r e c t o r s t o was Cammell had t h e Ltd. L a i r d Ltd. to by Howie t h e P e r u v i a n no and f i n d L t d . t o L t d . had t h a t Cammell L a i r d dock We m a i n t a i n i n g Esquimaux by H e l l y e r . L t d . , i t i t d e s t r o y e r s . and c o n t i n u e d 3 1 s t a g g r e g a t e d Company t h e by on o r t u r n r e p a i r i n g Ltd. t h a t a s s e t s Cammell e v i d e n c e J . B . S h i p r e p a i r e r s We t o g r a v i n g as y e a r , 1 9 7 2 . V e n e z u e l a n c o n t r a c t s . and b e f o r e S h i p r e p a i r e r s or some c o m p a n i e s o t h e r t h e i r ( S h i p r e p a i r e r s ) f i n a n c i a l and i s P e r u v i a n o f r e p a i r i n g , and d r y - d o c k L a i r d S h i p r e p a i r e r s r e l e v a n t a two e m p l o y e e s , ( S h i p r e p a i r e r s ) and 1974 s o l d the no o f i n t o W e s t e r n had T h e r e L a i r d V e n e z u e l a n -and and ( S h i p r e p a i i " e r s ) i n e n t e r e d s u b - c o n t r a c t e d L t d . p o s s e s s i o n i t s t h e b e e n ( S h i p b u i l d e r s ) L a i r d w e r e r e f i t t i n g P a r t II of the Second r S c h e d u l e t o the ,iU I­ CONFIBhNlfAL We w o u l d t h a n by e x p e c t t h e t h e d r y - d o c k . a b o o k i n g L t d . We B i l l i s an was a t h u s s h i p t o us We d r y - d o c k on o f f i n d t h e b o o k i n g any and 3 1 s t w i t h a o c c u p y i n g p o s s e s s i o n of t h e t h e i n t e r m e d i a t e o c c u p a t i o n t h a t J u l y H e l l y e r 1 9 7 4 . q u e s t i o n o m i s s i o n n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g the b u s i n e s s of b e c a u s e t h a t of on w h e t h e r W e s t m i n s t e r 3 1 s t r e p a i r i n g 3 1 s t J u l y 1974 b e c a u s e s h i p r e p n i r i n g of of t h e J u l y s h i p s , i n c l u s i o n n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g S h i p r e p a i r e r s v i r t u e 1 9 7 4 i t a l b e i t i n was of t h a t t h e of t h e i t s London s h i p r e p a i r i n g m i n i m a l ; i n c l u s i o n n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g b u s i n e s s o f t h a t Cammell t h o s e of J . B . Howie on 3 1 s t J u l y L a i r d two and 1 9 7 4 S h i p r e p a i r e r s w h o s e t u r n o v e r c o m p a n i e s f o u r t h , b e c a u s e of t h e e x c l u s i o n Company on t h e ground a r e i n c l u d e d , m i n i m a l ; Andrews E n g i i i e e r i n g d r y - d o c k a on l i c e n c e 3 1 s t t o I t t h a t and a o f more ­ Company, on W e s t e r n t o o f d o c k - o w n e r . b e c a u s e thir-d, a the i n s o m e t h i n g p u r s u a n c e g i v e n p r e s e n t e d i n Dock b u s i n e s s was been be way; G r a v i n g by has t o i n manager a r e s e c o n d , t h e o r the Company s m a l l d r y - d o c k o c c u p i e d h y b r i d e n g a g e d o t h e r ' h a n d , i n t e r e s t from f i r s t , D r e d g i n g a e v i d e n c e b e t w e e n B r o t h e r s o f c h a r t e r e r No " l i c e n c e " t h e o n the o c c u p a t i o n owner, u n d e r i t , we we a g r e e 1974 o c c u p y has s h o u l d J u l y n o t -with b e e n u r g e d We b e a r i n g u n d e r l y i n g s e l e c t e d t w e l v e t h e i r by t h e t h e B i l l s h i p r e p a i r i n g c a s e t o a on f u r t h e r f o r u s "amount on o u t s e l v e s Government t r i v i a l i t i e s . on go n o t t h a t Humber t h e i r t o an S t . work i n e n t i t l e m e n t i t . c o n c e r n t h e d i d o f and b e h a l f w i t h t h a t s a y q u e s t i o n s u c h t h e y t h a t w h e t h e r s h o u l d Selc^P^SilSKcI^if the a r e t h e y n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n , c o m p a n i e s , o f any and be t h e t r i v i a l i t i e s l i n d e e d h a v e o f t h e l i t t l e c o m p a n i e s e s p e c i a l l y a l l o w e d House. Government t o t h e p r e s e n t I t t h i s on i s e x a m i n a t i o n b e h a l f o f S e l e c t t h i s C o m m i t t e e s h o u l d we. j u s t h a v e t h a t of o f i t s u b j e c t a t h e d e p e n d House on m e n t i o n e d . the i t s e l f . G o v e r n m e n t . t h a t r i g h t Commons p o i n t p r e s e n t s t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a a t a n s w e r s Mr. Gamon, of s h a r e t h e v i e w e x p r e s s e d i s g r o t e s q u e t h a t t h e p l e a d Lords the i s s u e We to of f u n d a m e n t a l h i s o r to c a u s e t h e t h e House k i n d p e r h a p s b e f o r e of o f q u e s t i o n s a n t i c i p a t i n g t h a t t h e s h i p r e p a i r i n g m i g h t c o m p e l b u s i n e s s t h e u s o f 1 u n e x p r e s s e d c o m p a n i e s f i n d t h o u g h t h a t p a r a g r a p h s t o r e p a i r i n g S c h e d u l e , s u g g e s t e d a c t i v i t i e s we 3 n o t c o m p a n i e s . He i n t o o w n e r s h i p p u b l i c c o u l d s h i p r e p a i r i n g t h a t t h e i n who o r s h i p r e p a i x " i n g n a k e d t h e d e v i c e B i l l s and t h e P r o m o t e r s a n d - n o c h o s e n p l a y t o a s to t o i n c l u d e and i n c l u d e amount t o S c h e d u l e t h a t on w e r e w o u l d c l a s s the B i l l s u c h s o -in by t h a t b e c a u s e h y b r i d i s e t h e t h e two That a I r o n d e v i c e , c l a s s t h a t That n o t "only i n e f f e c t i v e t h a t the a s So " t h e be t o t h e y have' s a i d , to tak * e make t h e was t h e a f Govei-nment d i d n o t t h e s t a t e d c l a s s . and To t h e o r s e l e c t e d Government B i l l . of C l i f t o n - B r o w n c o m p r i s e 19(2) assume employed b e e n c l a u s e 3 as m a j o r h a s " g e n u i n e " r n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n buP&r"ICutMli!Aiting h y b r i d i s e w a n t e d w o u l d i g n o r i n g o 11 naming c l a s s i n : Comp-s / must the. t h e u n e x p r e s s e d one S p e a k e r would m a j d e s c r i b e d b a r e S t e e l we i b r i n g s o way t h a t t h e as o e x c l u s i v e l y them B i l l . o r the company us be a t o D r e d g i n g But s o Mr. c l a s s " i s t h a t j u s t i f y do i n an s o u g h t a l m o s t of and of f a c t n o t to the R u l i n g s t o Government d e s c r i p t i o n ^ D S c h e d u l e , e i g h t e e n from the The i t s e l f of shrank I I d e s c r i b e d W e s t m i n s t e r I t the s h i p r e p a i r i n g l a n d - r e c l a m a t i o n . o t h e r s . f i n d i n g as i n P a r t " g e n u i n e Government t h a t c o m p a n i e s draw d o e s r e l y i n g and i t . a t h e was K i n g . c o m p a n i e s as a l l . and t o him g e n u i n e c o m p a n i e s " , S p e a k e r S c h e d u l e a t b l e s s e d Mr. o f the of c l a s s company a d o p t e d and t h e Company e n g a g e d t h e beyond p a r l a n c e some s e l e c t i o n of o r d i n a r y framed w i t h o u t I i n s h i p r e p a i r i n g w i t h was m e a n i n g Part t h e and D r e d g i n g n o t d r e d g i n g t h o s e i n by t h a t a f o r i n s t a n c e , I I the n a t i o n a l i z e d c o n t e n d e d c o m p a n i e s e n g a g e d l o o k b e s h i p r e p a i r i n g a l i s t e d P a r t t o company w i t h i n d e s c r i b e d a r e W e s t m i n s t e r t h a t s h i p s o f c l a s s , w h i c h t h a t s h o u l d and o f s o has draw" i n t e n d claS^J do so W 0 Second s o m e t h i n g f o r 1 We f i n d t h a t t h e B i l l i s h y b r i d o m i s s i o n o f t h e W e s t m i n s t e r D r e d g i n g t h e i s n o t h y b r i d r e s p e c t B i l l London and G r a v i n g Humber Dock S t . w i t h Company, w i l l be s e e n o f W e s t m i n s t e r D r e d g i n g i s b a l a n c e d t h e h a v e by Dock London S h i p r e p a i r e r s In R u l i n g of Was t o t h e t h e c o m p a n i e s c l a s s i f B i l l . Mr. I r o n and o u t o f t h e f i r s t . i s n o t d e a l s o f the " f o r o f o of o t h e r company, s i z e , b u t t o was t o o r J . B . w h i c h I r o n and w h i c h we by and e x c e e d e d q u e s t i o n S t e e l t o t o us of t h e o f he Second £ 3 . 4 t h e and, t h e o r d e r n o t was i n t o t h e t u r n o v e r t o q u a l i f y one t o company Company, t u r n o v e r i n o f s h i p r e p a i r i n g . Government has d e c i d e d , i n t h e p u b l i c o w n e r s h i p s o l e l y ^ b ^ ^ e j a ^ s ^ ^ o f ^ j i t s s i z e by as c a s e r e a s o n o f o f some r e s p e c t b u s i n e s s i n t o B i l l 3 ( l ) ( c ) t h e i t t h e m e a n t c o n f i n e d i n t h e s h i p r e p a i r i n g E n g i n e e r i n g B i l l he n o t b r i n g was by and t o P a r a g r a p h Ln o f s e l e c t e d S c h e d u l e b u s i n e s s Dock germane a g g r e g a t e m i l l i o n o f a d e q u a t e c o n d i t i o n a s s o c i a t e d ' B i l l m a t t e r t h i n k i n d u s t r y . t h a t an c o m p a n i e s t h e t h e t h a t s u b j e c t We o f r e f e r r e d , i n foi-med meant t h e 1 9 6 7 a l r e a d y t h e t h a t i t s A c t c o n t a i n e d s h i p r e p a i r i n g r e q u i r e d w h i c h t h e i s G r a v i n g London r a i s e s t u r n o v e r t h a t but o f I I , W e s t e r n t h e Humber S c h e d u l e and h a v e t h i s t o r e q u i r e s c o n c e r n e d t h e germane s h i p r e p a i r i n g and h a v e II b u s i n e s s Howie n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n . Part t h e o u t s i d e o w n e r s h i p germane s u b m i t t e d of t o t h e n o t t h e was f o r s h i p r e p a i r i n g I I , w h e t h e r I n d u s t r y t u r n o v e r w o r d s and m a t t e r f o r c l e a r i n d u s t r y b u s i n e s s Dock p u b l i c must t h e t h e S h i p r e p a i r e r s ( S h i p r e p a i r e r s ) L a i r d f o r n o t t h e compnay s e l e c t e d company l e a s t , t h a t o f Cammell King, n a t i o n a l i s a t i o n ; a t 407 B i l l t u r n o v e r i n a d e s c r i p t i o n g e r m a n e t u r n o v e r W e s t e r n m i n o r t h e 3 ( 1 ) ( c ) c o m p a n i e s i n c l u s i o n t h e t h a t I t w i t h t h e t h e f i n d b u s i n e s s e s a n o t h e r t h e S t e e l t h a t t o We o f s h i p r e p a i r i n g S c h e d u l e d e s c r i p t i o n I s p a r a g r a p h i s e f f e c t t h a t G r a v i n g S p e a k e r t h e I t and w i t h i n T h e r e h y b r i d i t y . Company. Howie, Company, m i n o r Company b r o u g h t r e s p e c t Andrews. I t G r a v i n g J . B . i n In t h i s i t s s h i p r e p a i r e r s . We f i n d i s n o t t h a t t h e germane r e l a t e s t o n o t i n i s a l s o r e s p e c t o f t h e knows", t h e r e S c h e d u l e we and t o no P a r t s t h e w a i t i n g b e t w e e n I t h e m a r i n e II o f the o f p r o n o u n c e d t h e f o r f a c t B i l l c o n s c i o u s of o f t h e s o o f turnover f a r as the B i l l i s i t d i e s e l e n g i n e v i r t u a l l y as f a r Second S c h e d u l e so f a r e n g i n e and t r a i n i n g h y b r i d on about as o f n o t I P a r l i a m e n t t o N e v e r t h e l e s s , M e m o r i a l i s t s g i v e n an t h e he t h e F i as g i v e we Speaker t h e House e f f e c t t o o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o do p l e a d w o u l d and to h a v e r u l e s o f t h a t s u b j e c t of any B i l l Lords t o a f f e c t e d t h e i r i n d u s t r y t o w h a t u n a b l e w h e t h e r by B i l l t h e b e f o r e a a a i B w i t h of i n t h e d e c i d e c a s e a r e 2(4) a g a i n s t e are i n t r o d u c e d be ^ e x t e n t , We s e c t i o n w i l l to t h i s . of i s P e t i t i o n s b e s t add t h - all­ B i l l ' t h e s h o u l d S e l e c t be Commj-^ n o t i n v e s t i g a t e d b o t h t h e y s h o u l d Houses w e r e h a v e r e g a r d i n g d e s i g n e d a t o r i g h t t o by any g r e a t e x t e n t h y b r i d ! t y . b o t h p l e a d Houses h i s t h e o r i g l a r e , howev e n s u r e tha We t o c a u s e b e f o r e n them j-r c c o u l d show t h a t t h e i r d i s a d v a n t a g e t h a n i t o t h e r b e e n c a r e f u l w o r d s , m a j o r i t y , from S i n d u s t r i e s ' a c c o u n t p r o c e e d . p u r s u a n t o f our i s t h i s any p a r t i e s t o w h e t h e r , s i n c e t h e we s e c t i o n s c o m p a n i e s t h a t , h a v e and ' We c o n v i n c e d h e r they H o u s e . . t h e 1 9 1 1 , f i n d i n g , d e c i d e c e r t a i n from Act p r o b a b i l i t y i f s and e v i d e n c e I I i s P a r t s i and no t h a t , or i n d u s t r y and I m p o r t a n t t o f a c t c e r t i f i c a t e o u r t h a t P a r l i a m e n t n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n t h e B i l l a s s u r a n c e ? t h a t t h e m a n u f a c t u r i n g m a r i n e Gamon s and c o n d i t i o n w h e t h e r h a v e ' r e c e i v e d Mr. t h e d i s c r e p a n c y . c o n s c i o u s o f d e c i d e i n c o n g r u i t y f i n d -Having of- of a i r c r a f t s h i p b u i l d i n g , a c c o x - d i n g l y t h e t o the We t h a t c o m p a n i e s . s h i p b u i l d i n g , a c c e p t i s i n m a t t e r duty o f i n d u s t r i e s . b u t s u c h s u b j e c t our r e s p e c t t h e s e ; h y b r i d s h i p r e p a i r i n g i n r e l a t e i s t h e h y b r i d t r a i n i n g We t o t h e I t B i l l the from power the of w o u l d p o w e r t h e l e g i s l a t i o n put. to of h i s f e l l o w s . p r o t e c t t h e w o u l d s t a t e , G o v e r n m e S Q N FID the p u t him t o P a r l i a m e n t i n d i v i d u a l or, i f E N TIA L you Z r e has? from the p r e f e r i t * . r As King and we h i s have p r e d e c e s s o r , t h i n k , a l m o s t o f t h e h y b r i d i t y t o s u b m i t o r C o m m i t t e e s p a i n s t o We h a v e i s n o t h a v e t h e i r a l r e a d y h y b r i d b e e n f o r and I t depend h i s on s u c h r i g h t p h r a s e s o r m a i n t a i n i n g o r as Second S c h e d u l e ' c o v e r c o u l d *tad I I he 5 g l e a n h e had t h e him, and t h e t h a t had from P r o b a b i l i t y of d i f f i c u l t e n s u r i n g P a r t i n t h a t and n o t t o t h i s was t a k e B i l l w i s h i s o r h a v e e x c l u d e s t o n a t i o n a l i z e w h e t h e r e i t h e r House House a b o u t of g r e a t t h e w h i c h f i g h t a Commons u n d e r t a k i n g s the b u s i n e s s " e n t i t l e d of a t h e q u e s t i o n t h e S e l e c t Government w h i c h o f of w h e t h e r t h e as r e l u c t a n t h y b r i d i t y . w h e t h e r f o r t h e of t h e a v o i d f i t t e d to v e r y House we p u r p o s e s t h e r e f o r e , to i m p o r t a n c e O f f i c e r s the d o e s h a v e , o f a a subject: m i g h t t h e m e a n i n g r e p a i r i n g , l i c e n s e t o a s s i g n e d an r e f i t t i i o c c u p y a d r y ­ dock". I t i n of i n t o be S p e a k e r j u d g e m e n t q u e s t i o n Committees and t h e B i l l s can n a t u r a l l y as a answer "engaged d r a f t s m a n was i n t o Mr. f u n d a m e n t a l They, so c l a s s s u c h o f t o Government b e f o r e t a s k . t o of s h i p s " g r a v i n g The came a t h e o p i n i o n of dock t h a t c a u s e t h e t h e a r e o p i n i o n d r a f t d r a w i n g t h a t c u r i o u s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p l e a d our who the Lords. d r a f t e d n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n u n d e r t a k i n g s t o B i l l s of C l i f t o n - B r o w n , Committees of R u l i n g o f p o l i c y d e g e n e r a t e d i n the i s House C o u n s e l s u c c e s s f u l i n t e n d e d be e x p r e s s e d has P a r l i a m e n t a r y of t h e y t h e s i g h t Governments d e c i s i o n s of t h e Speaker l o s t r u l e . w h e t h e r above Mr. c o m p l e t e l y m a j o r C o m m i t t e e s , i n d i c a t e d t o h a v e e n o u g h a l l no him t o companies o t h e r company s o u r c e s on s u c h t h a t were a v a i l a b l e s u c c e e d e d . a t t e m p t f o r t h e r e l y k n o w l e d g e B i l l f a i l e d . As i t i n make a l w a y s u s , w a s , he t h a t I I 11 f u l f i l l e d n o t t o P a r t P a r t i n f o r m a t i o n I m p o s s i b l e b u t t h e as o f t h e h i s when i t c o n d i t i o n s Government s y m p a t h e t i c . w o u l d i n k n o w l e d g e a l l was d e n i e d ANNEX B THE INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF DELAY TO THE AIRCRAFT AND SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRIES BILL Memorandum "by the Secretary of State for Industry INTRODUCTION This note examines the industrial and economic implications of delay to the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill. It is Written on what it must take to be the most likely assumption ie "that the Bill would not become an Act until November and that "Vesting .day would be in February 1 9 7 8 . SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIRING 2 For warship building a deferment of public ownership will not have any substantial industrial or economic implications but it will Put back ovir thinking abo\it the scope for a modest expansion of our export business in small warships. 3 ^ A delay to the Bill will have an adverse effect on the shiprepairing industry in putting back much needed investment which f course is most unlikely to be forthcoming under private ownership f shiprepairing is excluded from the Bill. It could also lead to P*ie or more early closures by shiprepairing companies who have been huyirig orders at a loss and are not willing to carry on, but their Problem would of course have to be faced in the event of Nationalisation. Q l 4 The most serious problem lies with the merchant shipbuilders here the public corporation is needed to: w make, and put into effect, plans for a merchant shipbuilding­ i industry that will be able to stand on its own feet; it is difficult to get effective long-term planning and unrealistic to expect any significant new investment by the individual companies while the public ownership issue remains unsettled; ii channel the funds available from the Selective Intervention Fund to the yards where they can be used most effectively: until we have access to company records after nationalisation we lack the informat-Wia.saq-drEp^eri to do this. i 4. * 4-v - * f CONFIDENTIAL ... 5 Apart from these industrial considerations, until the Corporation is formed the Government itself will bear the main brunt of difficult decisions on the allocation of aid and hence alleged responsibility for redundancies although, of course, we could not escape political pressure to intervene in such decisions even after nationalisation. In addition , until the^ Corporation is formed, the shipyard workers redundancy scheme is in suspense though we have still to find an opportunity of discussing this with the trade unions. 6 However, unless we run into difficulties with the EEC Commissio­ the availability of the new Intervention Fund provides a means of avoiding the threatened collapse of the merchant shipbuilders and ^ the creation of National Shipbuilders and Repairers Limited provide a useful instrument for action for securing orders for the industry' i 7 In summary, delay to the Bill could have long term costs, and involve serious political and administrative difficulties for the Government in administering the Intervention Fund, but with the nev policy initiative referred to above the delay would, not cause irreparable damage. On the basis of current policies we can get oy, though perhaps only just. And it is of course mistaken to imagine that nationalisation itself will not carry with it considerable political and administrative problems. AIRCRAFT 8 The aircraft "industry is running down, mainly because of fall volume of work on civil aircraft. It is almost inevitable that employment will drop by over 10% ( 5 , 0 0 0 ) over the next -/"ear or so. The scale of run down thereafter will depend significantly on decisions yet to be taken. 111 9 There is only one civil aircraft whose launch might quickly., ^ affect these prospects - the HS146 which as at present formulated a doubtful proposition. Whether it will prove a worthwhile . proposition on which to expend the funds of the public corporatio remains to be seen: it will certainly not go ahead under private ownership unless the Government meets all the main cost. : 10 The only other immediate significant possibility is the cnance that we might secure a major overseas sale of the BAC111 to Roman ' Japan or India. The prospect of securing one of these contracts not significantly affected by the nationalisation issue. 11 In the slightly longer term, the main potential prospect apa­ from the HS146 lies in overseas collaboration. Negotiations a ? currently taking place which require series of actions commencing soon and ending in long-term commitments, or otherwise, perhaps . within the next 12 months. These need a strong single UK enterp to negotiate with the overseas companies and this is needed ^ Follow up action with Boeing, the strongest possibility, is due ^ March and could be prejudiced. Any loss of such overseas p i ' y would be serious. Meanwhile pressure is mounting from the u r n for positive Government action on new civil projects to safegua long-term employment. 6 s o o n n 0 eC r 011 g C 12 Against this, there is no certainty that the negotiations on the collaborative projects will in fact come to a head in the next 6 months or so and there could be advantage if some of the inescapable run down in manpower took place before nationalisation. Moreover if the negotiations did come to a head it might be possible to persuade the two main companies to adopt a more united front. This might conceivably be done through the Organising Committee for British Aerospace if that can be kept in being: its Chairman takes the view which may, or may not, prove correct, that continued uncertainty will cause it to drift apart. CONCLUSIONS 13 For all the industries affected a prolongation of uncertainty is itself damaging and involves risks to employment. 14For shipbuilding, delay to nationalisation will cause some long-term damage to the industry. But the policy initiatives now decided on will avert serious immediate damage. Delay will make the Selective Intervention Fund less effective and increase the period for which aid is needed, though assistance will still be needed after nationalisation through British Shipbuilders. It will lead to some political embarrassment to the Government in administering the Intervention Fund. But the Intervention Fund problem is not decisive unless we come to grief in the EEC. 15 For ship repairers delay is likely to precipitate closures, but so would a decision to exclude them from the Bill. 16 Eor aircraft there is a risk that delay will prejudice important "business opportunities of major long term importance. E G V 18 FEBRUARY 1977 3 ANT7EX C , THE AIRCRAFT. AND SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRIES BILL AND THE PARLIAT'IENT ACTS, 1 9 1 1 AND 1 9 4 9 1. S e c t i o n 2 of t h e P a r l i a m e n t Act 1 9 1 1 ( a s amended by t h e 1 9 4 9 A c t ) a p p l i e s where a p u b l i c D i l l i s passed by t h e House of Commons i n each of two s u c c e s s i v e Sessions, i s s e n t t o t h e House of Lords a t l e a s t a month b e f o r e t h e end. of b o t h t h e s e S e s s i o n s , and i s r e j e c t e d by t h e Lords i n each of t h e s e S e s s i o n s . On i t s r e j e c t i o n by t h e Lords on t h e second o c c a s i o n t h e n , u n l e s s t h e Commons d i r e c t t o t h e c o n t r a r y , the B i l l i s p r e s e n t e d f o r Royal Assent and becomes law i n t h e form d e s i r e d by t h e Commons A B i l l i s deemed t o be r e j e c t e d by t h e Lords i f i t i s not passed by them e i t h e r w i t h o u t amendment o r o n l y w i t h such amendments a s may be a g r e e d t o by b o t h H o u s e s . Before t h e B i l l i s p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e Royal A s s e n t , t h e Speaker must c e r t i f y u n d e r S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e S e c t i o n have been d u l y complied w i t h . 2. The B i l l s e n t t o t h e Lords i n t h e second. S e s s i o n c o u n t s a s t h e same a s t h e B i l l s e n t up i n t h e p r e c e d i n g S e s s i o n i f i t i s i d e n t i c a l , o r c o n t a i n s only amendments c e r t i f i e d by the- Speaker u n d e r S e c t i o n 2 ( 4 ) t o be r e q u i r e d because of t h e l a p s e of t i m e o r t o be t h e same a s amendments made by t h e Lords i n t h e p r e c e d i n g S e s s i o n . ( T h e r e i s a l s o a p r o c e d u r e f o r t h e Commons t o s u g g e s t amendments t o t h e L o r d s , n o t relevant to t h i s case.) 3. ­ The A i r c r a f t and S h i p b u i l d i n g I n d u s t r i e s B i l l was r e j e c t e d by t h e Lords l a s t S e s s i o n w i t h i n t h e meaning of t h e P a r l i a m e n t A c t s ( i n t h a t t h e y i n s i s t e d upon amend­ ments e x c l u d i n g s h i p - r e p a i r i n g which t h e Commons d i d n o t a c c e p t ) . back t o t h e Lords t h i s S e s s i o n i n a form which f u l f i l s down i n t h e A c t s ; I t h a s been s e n t t h e c o n d i t i o n s a s t o form l a i d t h e Speaker h a s so c e r t i f i e d , h a v i n g r e j e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s made t o him i n t h e House t h a t t h e B i l l d i d n o t comply with them. 4. The f a c t t h a t t h e B i l l h a s now been d e c l a r e d h y b r i d i s n o t t h o u g h t t o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e P a r l i a m e n t A c t s . A h y b r i d B i l l i s a p u b l i c B i l l t o which Standing Orders r e l a t i n g to p r i v a t e business a r e a p p l i c a b l e ; B i l l w i t h i n t h e meaning of h e P a r l i a m e n t A c t s . x effect i t i s s t i l l a public A s u g g e s t i o n t o t h e c o n t r a r y was made i n t h e c o u r s e of t h e p r o c e e d i n g s b e f o r e t h e Examiners on t h e A i r c r a f t S h i p b u i l d i n g I n d u s t r i e s B i l l , but i s c o n s i d e r e d t o be i n v a l i d . and The A i r c r a f t end S h i p b u i l d i n g I n d u s t r i e s B i l l could be p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e Royal Assent u n d e r t h e P a r l i a m e n t A c t s a t t h e end of t h e p r e s e n t S e s s i o n r e g a r d l e s s of w h e t h e r t h e Lords had completed t h e i r c o n s i d e r a t i o n of i t . b u t t h r e e of t h e i r r e p o r t : The Examiners say i n t h e l a s t paragraph­ "Since t h i s B i l l i s introduced with the c e r t i f i c a t e from t h e Speaker p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 2(4) of t h e P a r l i a m e n t Act, 1911, t h e House of Lords w i l l bC u n a b l e i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y t o g i v e e f f e c t t o any p e t i t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e B i l l " . 5. The r e j e c t i o n "by t h e Lords of t h e A i r c r a f t and S h i p b u i l d i n g I n d u s t r i e s B i l l this S e s s i o n , w i t h i n t h e meaning of t h e P a r l i a m e n t A c t s , could o c c u r i n one of s e v e r a l ways. The Loid.s might simply r e j e c t t h e B i l l on Second o r T h i r d R e a d i n g , b u t t h i s i s not expected. Second, t h e Lords could f a i l t o complete c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e B i l l by the end of t h e S e s s i o n ; a s n o t e d a b o v e , t h e B i l l could t h e n be s u b m i t t e d f o r Royal Assent. T h i r d , t h e Lords could amend t h e B i l l i n ways n o t a g r e e d t o by t h e Commons. I f the two Houses had n o t r e s o l v e d any d i f f e r e n c e s of o p i n i o n o v e r such amendments by the end of t h e S e s s i o n , t h e B i l l could be s u b m i t t e d f o r Royal A s s e n t . might a c c e p t some Lords amendments b u t n o t o t h e r s ; F o u r t h , t h e Commons and a g a i n , i f t h e Lords did not g i v e way, t h e B i l l could be s u b m i t t e d f o r Royal Assent w i t h t h e amendments accepted "by t h e Commons. If, however, t h e Lords amended t h e B i l l and a l l t h e i r amendments were a g r e e d t o by t h e Commons, t h e B i l l would be s u b m i t t e d f o r Royal Assent i n t h e normal way and no q u e s t i o n of i n v o k i n g t h e P a r l i a m e n t Acts would a r i s e . E q u a l l y , i f the Lords amended t h e B i l l , t h e Commons r e j e c t e d some o r a l l of t h e s e amendments, and the Lords t h e n a c c e p t e d t h e w i l l of t h e Commons, t h e B i l l would go forward f o r Royal A s s e n t i n t h e normal way. 6. The P a r l i a m e n t A c t s a r e so d r a f t e d t h a t , i f t h e Lords amend 3. B i l l sent up froB t h e Commons i n t h e second s u c c e s s i v e S e s s i o n , t h e Commons may have an o p p o r t u n i t y to c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r t o a c c e p t t h e Lords amendment(s). The Acts a l s o contemplate t h a t , b e f o r e a B i l l i s s u b m i t t e d f o r t h e Royal Assent i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e i r p r o v i s i o n s , t h e Commons have t h e power t o " d i r e c t o t h e r w i s e " , i e t o d e c i d e n o t t o invoke t h e Parliament Acts a f t e r a l l . But i t does not a p p e a r t o be e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e Common!"' s h o u l d c o n s i d e r any Lords amendments, o r should c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r t o " d i r e c t otherwise If, 1 by t h e end of t h e second S e s s i o n , t h e Lords have f a i l e d t o p a s s t h e B i l l i n the form i n which i t was s e n t u p by t h e Commons, t h e B i l l can t h e n be s u b m i t t e d Royal Assent r e g a r d l e s s of w h e t h e r t h e Commons have g i v e n t h e B i l l any c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n c e t h e completion of t h e Lords p r o c e e d i n g s . for further I f such a s i t u a t i o n were t o a r i s e i n t h e c a s e of t h e A i r c r a f t and S h i p b u i l d i n g I n d u s t r i e s B i l l , the O p p o s i t i o n might put down a Motion i n v i t i n g t h e Commons t o d i r e c t t h a t t h e B i l l be s u b m i t t e d f o r Royal A s s e n t . tiO* The Government would not have t o p r o v i d e time f o r such Motion, and i t seems d o u b t f u l w h e t h e r i t could be t a k e n on a Supply Day. 3 If, however, t h e O p p o s i t i o n were by any means a b l e t o s e c u r e a d e b a t e on such a Motion, t h e Government would have t o s e c u r e t h e r e j e c t i o n of t h e Motion o r t h e B i l l would fal 1 7' To cum u p , t h e P a r l i a m e n t A c t s p r o v i d e a means of e n s u r i n g t h a t t h e Aircraft Bad S h i p b u i l d i n g I n d u s t r i e s B i l l can he s u b m i t t e d f o r Royal Assent by t h e end of t h i s S e s s i o n , e i t h e r i n i t s p r e s e n t form o r with any amendments a g r e e d t o by t h e Commons, r e g a r d l e s s of any a c t i o n t a k e n by t h e L o r d s . a f f e c t e d by h y b r i d i t y ; This p o s i t i o n i s not but t h e u s e of t h e P a r l i a m e n t Acts might p o s s i b l y r e q u i r e a f u r t h e r s u c c e s s f u l v o t e i n t h e Commons a t t h e end of t h e S e s s i o n . If, a s p a r t of some b a r g a i n , amendments t o t h e B i l l "were, t o be made by t h e Lords and a g r e e d t o bj "the Commons, and t h e r e was no d i s p u t e between t h e two Houses, t h e q u e s t i o n of invoking t h e P a r l i a m e n t Acts would not a r i s e , and t h e B i l l would be s u b m i t t e d Royal Assent i n t h e u s u a l v:ay. for