§ 94. Mr. GOULDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, seeing that the United States Shipping Board have established lines of steamers on routes and on trades formerly controlled by British steamship companies, he can state the number of British vessels, their dead-weight and gross tonnage, now allocated to the use of the United States Government for military and transport services; and whether his Department have considered the advisability of all British ships being withdrawn from the use of the United States Government as quickly as possible, or when the United States Government have ton-for-ton available for substitution?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Colonel Leslie Wilson)With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to the Noble Viscount the Member for Aldershot. At the moment the only ship allocated to the Americans, for repatriation of troops is the steamship "Haverford" (11,635 gross tons, 11,090 dead-weight), which is unsuitable for other routes. A third part of the space of the steamship "Mauretania" on her forthcoming voyage has also been allotted. His Majesty's Government cannot withhold assistants from her co-belligerents which can properly be rendered after Dominion and Imperial needs have been fully met.