HC Deb 04 April 1922 vol 152 cc2000-1
6. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the India Office are running steamers between the United Kingdom ports and the Persian Gulf in competition with private shipowners; will the profit or loss arising therefrom be shown in the Estimates; and, if so, on what Vote?

Earl WINTERTON

The High Commissioner, acting as the agent of the Government of India, is running 11 enemy ships captured in Indian ports. The ships are employed partly in carrying Government stores and partly in private trade. Some of them are employed in trade between the United Kingdom and the Persian Gulf in cooperation with the shipping company concerned in that trade. Substantial profits have been earned by these ships. They are not shown in the Estimates, because they are being earned by the Government of India and not by the British Government.

Lieut.-Colonel POWNALL

Will that profit accrue to the taxpayers of India?

Earl WINTERTON

Yes, the profits arising from the present management.

Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAY

Is it proposed to run these Government ships indefinitely.

Earl WINTERTON

No, Sir; it is not intended to run them indefinitely, but for the moment it is convenient to do so.

Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEY

Is it not a fact that we have been told repeatedly that the Government was against State trading? How is it, then, that the Government of India is competing with private enterprise by State-owned ships?

Earl WINTERTON

I do not admit that they are competing with private enterprise, because these ships are being run in conjunction with a private company; but the system is not to be continued indefinitely.