§ 28. Mr. HOLTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller the amount of monthly hire paid by the British, French, Italian, and American Governments, respectively, to a vessel of their own nationality of 4,800 tons gross, 12 knots speed, and 7,500 dead-weight capacity when requisitioned by them?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Sir Leo Chiozza Money)The rate and conditions for a British vessel of the class described are £3,420 a month for the first two months and £3,300 thereafter, the Government bearing the heavy liability of war risk on current value and the cost of wages of crew in excess of pre-war rates, in addition to the ordinary time charterers' liabilities. As regards France and Italy, the terms of requisition have not, so far as I know, been published, but I am communicating with the respective Governments on the subject, and will let my hon. Friend know the result. I understand that the terms allowed by' the American Government for a vessel of the class described would be about £10,600 per month, the American Government taking the war risk on a basis of valuation not defined in the charter party, and owners paying wages in full at the rates current on 1st August, 1917.