HC Deb 27 March 1919 vol 114 cc602-3
87. Mr. LEONARD LYLE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller how many standardised ships have been delivered; how many are operating under Government charter; and how many have been sold to private traders; and whether any fixed period has been assigned for the completion of the full number under construction at the time of the Armistice?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Colonel Leslie Wilson)

Two hundred and five standard ships have been delivered, of which 146 are operating under Government charter; the others, 59 in number, have been sold to private traders. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Commander Viscount CURZON

Are there any more standardised ships under construction?

Colonel WILSON

There are at present under construction 283, which were ordered before the Armistice and which are not yet completed.