HC Deb 08 December 1931 vol 260 cc1698-9
84. Mr. BROCKLEBANK

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the proportion of the cost of the North Atlantic ice patrol paid by His Majesty's Government is to be increased; and by whom that increased proportion has been paid in the past?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The scale of contributions to this service was originally fixed by the International Safety Conference of 1913–14. The 1929 Safety Conference revised the scale to represent more equitably the interests of the contributing countries in the service. This revision involves an increase of the contributions of this and certain other countries, and a corresponding decrease in those of certain others.