§ MR. CAYZER (Barrow-in-Furness)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Bombay Government, in applying to British vessels regulations as to the load line which are not made applicable to foreign vessels when loading at Bombay, have given foreign ships an advantage of one-twentieth per cent, in their earning capacity over British vessels; whether the regulations for shipping at foreign ports is applied to shipping of every nationality; if he can state on what grounds foreign ships loading in India are exempt from the operations of the Load Line Act, to which they are subject in the United Kingdom; and whether he will take steps to remedy this injury to the British shipping interests, and give immediate instructions to have the same regulations applied to foreign and British vessels when loading at Indian ports?
* MR. G. RUSSELLThe Secretary of State is not aware that foreign vessels loading at Indian ports enjoy the advantage suggested in the question. He will inquire as to the instructions to Customs and Port Authorities in India regarding the loading of foreign vessels, and the detention of overloaded foreign vessels clearing from Indian ports. The result of the inquiry will be communicated to the hon. Member. The Secretary of State is not able 787 to give a specific answer to so wide a question regarding the practice of foreign nations.