HC Deb 16 June 1931 vol 253 cc1604-5
19. Mr. OSWALD LEWIS

asked the President of the Board of Trade the gross tonnage of ships under construction in British shipyards on 1st June, 1929, and on the latest date for which the figures are available?

Mr. W. R. SMITH

Information as to the gross tonnage of ships under construction in British shipyards on 1st June, 1929, is not available. According to the quarterly shipbuilding returns, published by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, the tonnage of merchant vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards under construction in Great Britain and Ireland on 30th June, 1929, was 1,454,000 tons gross, and on 31st March, 1931, 694,000 tons gross.

Mr. BROCKWAY

Have the Government reached a conclusion about increasing this tonnage by giving credits to Russia?

Mr. SMITH

That is another question.