§ 62. Captain BARNETTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether any rebate on freight has been conceded to Norwegian coal importers; and, if so, what was the total value of such concession and for what reason was it given?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the SHIPPING CONTROLLER (Colonel Leslie Wilson)Under a general agreement and under arrangements with the Norwegian interests concerned, a large amount of Norwegian tonnage was chartered by the British Government for employment on Allied service in exchange for the carriage of coal to Norway in British ships. The total freight paid by the Norwegian coal importers has proved to be in excess of the total charge which the British Government was entitled to make on the basis of the agreement and the excess, which in all will amount to about £1,500,000, is being repaid in accordance with the original understanding.
§ Captain BARNETTHas any similar rebate been made to British importers and particularly to British importers of wire nails?
§ Colonel WILSONI do not think that question arises.