HC Deb 25 April 1928 vol 216 cc905-6
29. Mr. SHINWELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what amounts payment has been made to the Government on account of reparation ships disposed of by the Shipping Liquidation Board during the period between October, 1920, and December, 1921; in what place in the national accounts these payments appear; whether there are any such amounts still due and outstanding; and, if so, to what amount?

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

The amount paid to the Government on account of reparation ships disposed of by the Shipping Liquidation Department during the period October, 1920, to December, 1921, is £18,905,031 10s. 4d. The nett payments received each year are included in the reparation receipts of the Treasury which are paid to the Exchequer as Miscellaneous Revenue, Special Receipts. £665,000, excluding interest, is still due and outstanding.

Mr. SHINWELL

Can the hon. Gentleman say what shipping lines are still owing that amount?

Mr. WILLIAMS

It is never the practice of any taxing Department or collecting Department to disclose information with regard to individual firms.

Mr. SHINWELL

Will the hon. Gentleman state the reason these shipping companies, the names of which he refuses to disclose, still refuse to pay these amounts?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I do not think there is any evidence that they are refusing to pay the amounts. They are paying them by instalments.

Mr. SHINWELL

Was it not understood in 1920 and 1921 that these companies should be permitted to pay by instalments, and why should it have taken so long to pay these amounts?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I imagine that in some cases the settlement took a long time to arrive at, and the question of instalments arose much later than 1920 and 1921.

Mr. SHINWELL

Is the Department pressing these companies for payment of these amounts immediately?

Mr. WILLIAMS

No, we are not pressing people who may not be in a position to pay. They are paying by instalments, and so long as they are fulfilling their obligations, that it all we are concerned with.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Is not the hon. Gentleman's Department, like every other Department, taking every penny that it can get?

Mr. MACLEAN

Will the hon. Gentleman inform the House how much these companies would have had to pay if they had purchased new ships instead of these reparation ships?