§ 61. Commander Nobleasked the Minister of Transport when it is expected to release the 62 passenger ships still on requisition on 31st January; and on what duties they are now employed.
§ Mr. BarnesOf the 62 passenger ships of all types and sizes under requisition on 31st January, three have already been released for reconditioning, and I have arranged tot 26 more ships to be released between now and the of end September, 1947. Forty-five of the ships still in service are employed as troopships; nine are civilian transports; three are hospital ships; and the remaining two are small craft employed on miscellaneous services.
§ Mr. EdenDoes not the Minister think it very unsatisfactory that, even in September of this year, so many of these ships will still be running in Government service. when they are the most valuable hard currency earners we have, and cannot the Government disgorge some of the ships and let them earn money?
§ Mr. BarnesDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that we should neglect our trooping arrangements?
§ Mr. EdenI suggest that the Minister is retaining a very large number of these ships, and I further suggest that he ought to find out if there are other means by which he can carry out the trooping arrangements without detaining so many merchant ships.
§ Mr. BarnesI am amazed at a proposal of that kind coming from the right hon. Gentleman, because there are no other 794 means by which we can carry out the obligations to carry the troops of this country according to Army requirements.
§ Commander NobleIs not the Minister aware that aircraft carriers have been used for that purpose?
§ Mr. BarnesI am aware that all these matters have been fully considered. This is a minimum requirement essential to the carrying out of our obligations.