§ 16. Colonel NORTOn GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether steps have been taken by owners who have lost ships insured against war risk to replace such ships; and, if so, whether he can state the percentage of ships being so replaced or on stocks, having regard to the total of ships lost and insured against war risk?
Mr. HARCOURTThe action taken by individual owners in the way of replacing lost ships is not reported to the Board of Trade, and it is therefore not possible to give exact information or percentages, but I know of no reason to think that owners are refraining from ordering new ships. There is no lack of orders; the difficulty is in getting them completed owing to war conditions.
Colonel GRIFFITHSMay I ask if the Government are taking the necessary steps to ensure that the carrying capacity of the nation is being maintained?