§ 3. Sir R. THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that shipowners regard pilotage charges, 150 particularly on the west coast of England and Wales, as being unreasonably high, especially in the case of coasting steamers; and whether he will institute a general inquiry into the pilotage rates of all the ports of the United Kingdom?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am aware that shipowners hold the view mentioned as regards pilotage charges in some of our ports, but, under the Pilotage Act of 1913, they can obtain full consideration of any representations they desire to advance. As I informed the hon. Member on 24th April, I do not think that a general inquiry into these charges would be useful.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Bristol Channel pilotage rates from Barry Roads are 94.7 per cent. higher than the charges of pre-War days?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am sure the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that I cannot answer off-hand questions of detail relating to comparative charges with anything like accuracy; but the very fact that he cites one example seems to show that the argument used by me on previous occasions is right, and that these matters are much more conveniently dealt with, as provided by Statute, by going into the individual cases where necessary rather than by general inquiry.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the rates in the West of England are fixed by the pilotage authorities on which the shipowners are well represented; and is he aware that in the case cited by the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas) the pilots have to keep their vessels going at much greater cost than before the War and that the rates are well justified?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAll this seems to show how sound is the answer that each case should be investigated and decided; on its own merits.
§ Sir R. THOMASDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that a general inquiry is necessary, having regard to the great anomalies that exist—for instance a deeply-laden ship being charged the same rates as a lightly-laden ship?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think the fact that hon. Members who take different views can produce such a 151 variety of instances based on differing circumstances shows how wise it is to deal with the individual cases, and not to attempt to deal with the matter in a general way.