§ 44. Sir OWEN PHILIPPSasked the, Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller how many British merchant ships were lost in 1917; and what was the corresponding fall in cargo imported?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Sir Leo Chiozza Money)The net loss of British vessels of 1,600 tons gross and upwards in the year 1917 was 598. Making due allowance for the date at which the losses in 1917 occurred, the British tonnage available in 1917 was 20 per cent. less than in 1916. The fall in cargo imported into the United Kingdom in British vessels in 1917, as compared with 1916, was, however, only about 2 per cent.
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYNo; I am sorry I cannot.