58. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the name, the size, and the name of the owner of each of the five British steamers reported to him to have been time-chartered since the 1st January last to subjects of neutral countries, if licences were granted, and the reasons for granting them?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe information as to the future movements and commitments of British ships is provided by shipowners at the request of the Admiralty for Government purposes, and I do not think that this information can properly be made public in the case of particular ships. The live British steamers reported as having been time-chartered to neutrals since 1st January are all licensed, and all trade either to an Allied country or to the United Kingdom.