HC Deb 19 December 1916 vol 88 cc1297-8
53. Colonel YATE

asked how many British ships are now engaged in plying between neutral ports?

Mr. ROBERTS

There are approximately fifty steamers registered in the United Kingdom trading regularly between neutral ports. In addition to this there are about a hundred ships belonging to the two large China companies which trade with both neutral and Allied ports in the Far East. These are mainly of small size.