§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Bill will interfere with those port authorities who now have power to charge dues on 50 per cent. of the gross tonnage of ships.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The Bill would not deprive a port authority of any statutory powers which they at present possess of charging dues on a percentage of the gross tonage.