§ 20. Sir A. POWNALL (for Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND)asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of British ships laid down in the first quarter of 1929 and of 1931, and the corresponding figures for the tonnage laid down in all other countries?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMAccording to the returns published by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, the total tonnage of merchant vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards commenced in Great Britain and Ireland during the first quarters of 1929 and 1931 was 362,000 and 33,000 tons gross respectively, the corresponding figures for vessels commenced in all other countries being 298,000 and 209,000 tons gross. The published information does not distinguish the tonnage commenced for British owners from that for foreign owners.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDid my right hon. Friend say that only 33,000 tons were laid down here in the first quarter of this year?
§ Mr. GRAHAMYes; the figures asked for in the first part of the question are 362,000 and 33,000 tons respectively.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIt is a very alarming figure.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODSeeing that so many shipbuilders are idle at the moment, are the Government proposing to take any action to assist shipbuilding?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThat is a separate question, and I am able to inform my hon. Friend that on that point the decision will be announced within, I believe, the next few days.