§ 83. Mr. BETTERTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, seeing that there are at the present time a large number of persons desirous of returning home from Egypt, and also of soldiers eligible for demobilisation whose services are urgently needed for agricultural and industrial purposes, and who, owing to the inadequacy of shipping accommodation available, are unable to return, he will give directions that a ship be allocated for this purpose; and whether he will take steps to ensure that in the case of civilians priority be given in all cases to those who have been longest in that country?
Colonel WILSONThe Ministry of Shipping is meeting all demands made by the War Office for the conveyance of soldiers from Egypt. Accommodation has also been provided for civilians so far as possible, having regard to urgent demands on shipping in other directions. In addition to the facilities of the ordinary liner services, civilians are being allocated accommodation on troop transports, and it is hoped to be able to afford further facilities during the next month or two. A local Priority Board has already been set up in Egypt to arrange the order of priority in which civilians are to be given passages.