HC Deb 18 November 1919 vol 121 cc353-4
20. Mr. HOUSTON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the great congestion which prevails in the Liverpool docks and that at times as many as thirty inward steamers have been waiting for considerable periods for discharging berths; whether he has received repre- sentations from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to the effect that this congestion is in a measure due to vessels in, or which 'have been in, Government service being sent to the port of Liverpool to be repaired and reconditioned; whether he is aware that Liverpool has always been a commercial port and a great centre for distribution; and whether he can arrange for these Government vessels to be transferred to other ports where there is not the same congestion and so afford greater accommodation at Liverpool for the discharge of vessels bringing inward cargoes of food and other commodities and thereby relieve congestion?

Dr MACNAMARA

The Admiralty has received representations from the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board on this subject, and they 'have been informed that there is no immediate prospect of sending further vessels to Liverpool to be reconditioned. There are at present three armed merchant cruisers, thirty-two trawlers and drifters, and two salvage vessels being reconditioned at Liverpool. They are all in course of completion and, I am afraid, cannot be transferred to other ports.

Mr. HOUSTON

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the presence of these boats, already mentioned, is hampering the docks and that quite recently a steamer that arrived at Liverpool occupied thirty-four days before she could obtain a berth to discharge, while a similar steamer with the same kind of cargo only occupied six day's at Antwerp, and is not this reducing the efficiency of the steamers that serve Liverpool and add very largely to the cost of food and other commodities?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That may very well be. I will take it that it is so from my hon. Friend. But the reconditioning of the trawlers as rapidly as possible is a very urgent necessity from the point of view of the fishing industry.

Mr. HOUSTON

There is a great demand for food.

Dr. MACNAMARA

I agree.