§ 11. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will issue a statement showing the number of cases during the present year 377 in which Colonial Government officials proceeding on duty to and from this country have taken passage in foreign-owned vessels?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe number of Colonial Government officials who have proceeded on duty from this country since the 1st of January, 1931, and whose passages have been arranged in foreign-owned vessels is 121 out of a total of 4,730. I regret that it would not be possible to furnish statistics regarding homeward passages without considerable research and reference to all the Colonial Governments.
§ Captain MACDONALDWill the right hon. Gentleman see that British vessels are available for such passages in the case of Colonial officials?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is the practice. It is understood that wherever a British vessel is available Colonial officials proceeding home on leave will travel by them.