§ 13. Captain SOTHERON-ESTCOURTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the percentage of coastwise trade in the British Isles carried out by ships not under the British flag, indicating in each case the countries concerned and the proportion of such percentage each enjoys; and whether any of these nations benefiting by permission to carry on British coastal traffic give similar facilities to our ships and to what extent?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANOf the total tonnage of arrivals and departures with cargo in the coasting trade of the United Kingdom in 1931 0.8 per cent. only was under foreign flags. The percentages of this foreign tonnage as shared between the various countries are as follows: Italy, 29.4; Holland, 28.8; Germany, 13.0; Belgium, 5.5; Sweden, 4.7; Norway, 4.3; 192 others, 14.3. The coasting trade of each of the countries specified is open to British vessels.
§ Captain SOTHERON-ESTC0URTIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that shipping is receiving fair treatment in the matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI should have to have that question applied to each of the separate maritime countries to be able to reply to it satisfactory. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman cares to in quire further on the subject, I will see what I can obtain for him.
§ Mr. ALBERYAre not the figures which the right hon. Gentleman has just given based on the movements from port to port of tonnage, including large liners?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes. They cover the whole of the clearances—arrivals and departures.
§ Mr. ALBERYDoes not the inclusion of these liners which occasionally pass up and down our coast, make those figures very misleading as regards coastwise trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt cuts both ways, but ships pass up and down other countries coasts in the coasting trade.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDIs it not a fact that none of the countries mentioned permit passengers to be picked up and dropped on any of these coasts, as they are in this country?