§ 48. Mr. COUPERasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of ships built abroad, and their tonnage, to the order of British owners and registered in this country during each of the last five years?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Herbert Williams)The total number of new ships built abroad, and registered as British, during the five years was 127, of a total tonnage of 162,452. With my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures for each year which he desires.
§ Mr. COUPERMay I ask if the figures at the hon. Member's disposal show a progressive decline?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThe figures for 1927 are the highest for any year so far as tonnage is concerned, though not in number.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONMay I ask whether these are the same British owners who entered into international agreements and rings which deliberately penalise British trade?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThat does not seem to arise out of the question.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIn view of the fact that his Department have been advertising "Buy British goods," and that the bulk of the people who have bought these ships are members of his own party, will the hon. Gentleman make representations to them?
§ Mr. AUSTIN HOPKINSONIs it not a fact that the reason why the figures for last year are higher than before is that it was impossible to build these ships in this country owing to the coal strike of 1926?
§ Mr. SPEAKERQuestion Time is the time for asking for information, not for giving information.
§ Following are the figures:
§ The number of new ships built abroad and registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as British ships in each of the last five years was as follows:
| Year. | Number of Ships. | Tonnage (Gross). | ||
| 1923 | … | … | 21 | 10,810 |
| 1924 | … | … | 29 | 22,173 |
| 1925 | … | … | 28 | 44,967 |
| 1926 | … | … | 28 | 37,429 |
| 1927 | … | … | 21 | 47,073 |