§ 26. Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the President of the Board of 222 Trade whether he will in future issue quarterly a table showing the idle registered world shipping tonnage, with a comparison of relative figures for the corresponding period of the previous year; and will he, if necessary, invite other nations to collaborate in the compilation of this information for international purposes?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. William Graham)It would not be possible, from the available information, to prepare on a comparable basis for British and foreign countries a statement of the tonnage which is idle or laid up. As it would be difficult to supply precise and complete official information, even for the United Kingdom, I think no useful purpose would be served by approaching other Governments.