MR. JOHN WILSON (Lanark)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the case of vessels built in the United Kingdom to the order and delivery of foreigners, their values are not included in the Board of Trade Export Returns; and whether, seeing such vessels are built and equipped by material and labour, the product of this country, and thus form an essential part of export trade, he will consider the propriety of including such vessels in the Returns, or at least of appending their value to the Returns?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHNo, Sir. The values referred by the hon. Member are not at present included in the Trade Returns; but the question of appending a statement of the values of such vessels has been for some time under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. In the event of its being decided to obtain this information, legislation would probably be necessary.