§ 18. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that vessels lying in certain West African ports foul very quickly; that in some instances the bottoms become covered in a day or two with large quantities of barnacles; that these barnacles grow rapidly and greatly retard and reduce the speed of the vessel to which they attach themselves; that at times vessels are kept in these ports for a week or ten days awaiting convoy; that in many instances these vessels rapidly foul and after joining convoy are unable to maintain convoy speed, with the result that they fall out of position and sometimes out of convoy, or, alternatively, compel the whole convoy to reduce speed; and, with a view to more economical and better use of merchant ships, will he make representations to the proper quarter that better arrangements should be made for convoy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs regards the earlier parts of the question, the Admiralty are, of course, fully aware of the effects of marine growths on ships' bottoms. As regards the suggestion that vessels have been unnecessarily kept in these ports for a week or ten days awaiting convoy, my hon. Friend is misinformed. Vessels have no doubt been 754 kept waiting, but for reasons not connected with the convoy system. And it would not be true to suggest that the convoy system has been responsible for any abnormal delay. As regards the last part of the question, the number of vessels that fall out of convoy for any reason is remarkably few; and it has, so far as I know, never happened that a vessel has had to fall out of convoy because of the state of her bottom, the same resulting from detention at these ports. But here, as elsewhere, if my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make regarding arrangements for convoy, we shall be only too glad to consider them.
§ Mr. HOUSTONWill my right hon. Friend explain why he has introduced the word "unnecessary"? I did not say there were "unnecessary" delays in the convoying. Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that we have deep sea harbours for vessels at islands belonging to our Ally Portugal, the use of which would prevent the fouling in West African ports, and that these islands might have been used?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe suggestion, as it seemed to me, was that the use of these ports involved unnecessary delay.