§ MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Admiralty from time to time renew the charter or employment for South African transport purposes of 186 tonnage, which, though nominally British, is American-owned, in preference to British-owned tonnage, and also take up fresh foreign tonnage in preference to British tonnage; and will the Admiralty consider the advisability of reversing this procedure, and, other things being equal, of giving the preference to British-owned tonnage.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)Under the Transport Regulations no ship is engaged for any purpose which does not sail under the British flag. All vessels sailing under the British flag are legally British ships, and it is difficult and in many cases impracticable for the Transport Department of the Admiralty to make full inquiries into the actual ownership of any particular ship or ships. At the same time I am inclined to agree with the hon. Member that it is desirable, wherever possible, to give a preference to British-owned tonnage for the performance of national services. The Transport Department is alive to the point, and will, I trust, be able to give greater effect in the future to the principle to which I have referred.