HC Deb 31 July 1923 vol 167 cc1247-8
11. Colonel GRETTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade approximately the value of the tonnage built in German yards in each of the past three years, having regard to the class of vessels constructed?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

I fear that I have not got the necessary information to enable me to add to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 24th July.

Colonel GRETTON

Are we to understand from that reply that the Board of Trade know nothing of the expenditure on shipbuilding in German yards during the past three years?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

No; the hon. and gallant Gentleman must not understand that. He must understand what I told him on the last occasion this question was put, and that was that while I could give him the figure of the aggregate tonnage launched, it was quite impossible without an analysis of each class of ship included in that, to give an approximate estimate of price.

Colonel GRETTON

Such an analysis not having been made, the Board of Trade has not the information?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

I have not the information to make the analysis of each of the ships for which orders were placed in the German shipyards.