§ 36. Mr. LUKE THOMPSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give, for the first 10 months of 1929 to 1931, the total number of foreign vessels cleared from British ports to other British ports, together with the net registered tonnage of the same?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available, but for the whole year 1929 the foreign vessels that cleared with cargo at ports of the United Kingdom for other ports in the British Empire numbered 321 with a tonnage of 720,701 tons net, the corresponding figures for 1930 being 319 vessels of 697,512 tons net.
§ Mr. THOMPSONDoes not my right hon. Friend think it desirable that this large tonnage should be carried in British bottoms?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANSo long as we can retain such a large proportion of our trade without any of these restrictions, I believe the shipping industry is prepared to continue its competition.