§ 21. Colonel Sir ARTHUR HOLBROOKasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the shipping of military stores to Malta and Alexandria in a foreign-owned ship; and whether he will consider the desirability of instructing that all military stores for foreign stations shall be shipped in British ships manned by British sailors?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have been asked to reply, as the shipment—which included naval, War Office and Air Ministry stores—was made by my Department. The general rule, to which this case is no exception, is that the stores 809 of this character shall be shipped only in vessels under the British flag. The ship in question is registered as a British ship and sails under the British flag. The officers are all British, and out of a crew of 42 only five are foreigners. My hon. and gallant Friend may have in mind that whilst the company owning the ship is a registered British company, most of the shares are foreign-owned. He will appreciate, however, that to exclude from open competitive tender all companies which have some foreign interest would not only be difficult to work, but would narrow our field and lead to increased cost.