HC Deb 20 October 1902 vol 113 cc227-8
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether His Majesty's Government propose to lay upon the Table of this House the terms of the agreements come to respectively with the Cunard Company as to their ships, and with Mr. Pierpont Morgan as to the ships acquired by the American Corporation known as the Atlantic Shipping Trust; and, if so, when; whether, during the present session, any opportunity will be afforded to this House of discussing those agreements; and on what date the first payments to be made by His Majesty's Government under either of these agreements will become due.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

The Government propose to lay upon the Table of the House the formal agreements with the Cunard Steamship Company and the Atlantic Shipping Trust when these have been duly executed. My right hon friend the Prime Minister informs me that he will be prepared to find some evening for a discussion of the subject, if desired, after the agreements have been laid. It is unlikely that any payment under the agreement with the Cunard Steamship Company will fall due during the present financial year. The agreement with the Atlantic Shipping Trust does not involve any additional burden on the Exchequer.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to give an indication as to when the Papers are likely to be laid on the Table of the House?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I cannot name a date, but I hope it will not be very long.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

We are told it is to involve no financial burden on the Exchequer. But at what rate of interest is the money to be advanced?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

No money is to be advanced to the Atlantic Shipping Trust.