§ 68. Mr. PURCHASEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any subsidy to shippers has been given by the State for the purpose of reviving coastwise shipping trade; and how long it is proposed to continue this subsidy?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe War Cabinet in August announced that, in order to relieve traffic and as a temporary arrangement, in certain cases arrangements had been made that goods should be carried by coastwise traffic. This involved an indirect subsidy to the coasting trade, and it was not proposed to continue it after the revision of railway rates had been made.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas an estimate been made of the cost of the subsidy?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI should require notice of that question. An estimate has been made, but I do not carry the figures in my head.