§ 59. Mr. McGOVERN (for Mr. KIRK-WOOD)asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion does the idle shipping bear to the total tonnage of Great Britain?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Hore-Belisha)According to the quarterly returns of laid-up tonnage issued by the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, the net tonnage of British shipping reported as laid up in ports of Great Britain and Ireland on 1st January, 1932, was 1,946,077 tons. This total represents 15.8 per cent. of the net tonnage of vessels registered under Part I of the Merchant 1283 Shipping Act, 1894, that remained on the second part, it would not be in the public register at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands on 31st December, 1931.