HC Deb 18 February 1881 vol 258 c1230
MR. W. HOLMS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can inform the House what are the charges imposed on the Mercantile Navy of France for the recruitment and service of the Military Navy, to which reference is made in the French Mercantile Marine Act of 29th January 1881, in the following terms:— Article 9. As compensation for charges imposed on the Mercantile Navy for the recruitment and service of the Military Navy, a navigation bounty shall be granted, during ten years from the date of publication of this Law, to all French vessels, sailing or steam. It is fixed at 1 fr. 50 c. per register ton, and per 1,000 miles run for vessels of French construction fresh off the stocks, and decreases annually by—

  • 0.075 fr. for wooden vessels;
  • 0.075 fr. for composite vessels;
  • 0.05 fr. for iron vessels.
For foreign-built vessels the bounty is reduced to one-half of the assigned amount. The bounty is increased by 15 per cent for steamers built according to plans previously approved of by the Marine Department; and, if he can further state to what extent the charges referred to are calculated to go against the bounty?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris has been requested to forward a Report upon the charges to which the Mercantile Navy of France is subjected in connection with the "Inscription Maritime," and I hope to be able very shortly to supply my hon. Friend with the information which he requires.