21. Mr. SHINWELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to furnish information on the sale and price of ex-enemy and other vessels disposed of by the Ministry of Shipping, and the firms to whom such vessels were sold?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe information as to the ex-enemy reparation ships for which the hon. Member asked on 11th December is now ready and is being laid on the Table. The hon. Member now asks for corresponding information about all the other ships sold by the Ministry of Shipping, that is, the standard ships, the ships that. were partly completed at 229 the Armistice, and prizes, a total of over 700 ships, and the preparation of a detailed. return would involve a very considerable amount of labour and expense, which I do not think would he justified. All the accounts and papers relating to these transactions are examined by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
Mr. SHINWELLWill the right hon. Gentleman place the Papers on the Table immediately, that is, before the Recess: and, secondly, is the information asked for with regard to ships other than ex-enemy vessels being withheld because the Board of Trade., in the interests of the shipowners, do not think it desirable to give it?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMENo, Sir; certainly not. The return which I have said would lay on the Table will he laid—I think it is ready now--before the House rises. There is no possible suggestion that I am holding bark anything in the interests of any shipowners. I am taking this decision in the interests of the public.
Mr. SHINWELLIs it possible for Members of this House to obtain any information with regard to the transactions of the Liquidation Commission so far as vessels are concerned?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEYes, Sir. But I think it would be utterly unreasonable that. a very large expense should he involved in giving information about accounts which have been checked in detail by the Comptroller and Auditor-General and have been before. the Public Accounts Committee.