§ 7. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade what reply the Government have made to the request of the Cunard Company for the assistance of His Majesty s Government to enable them to complete their new ship at John Brown's Yard, Clydebank?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe reply which has been made by the Government to the Cunard Steamship Company is to the effect that they have most regretfully reached the definite conclusion that it is not possible for them, by way either of subsidy or of guarantee, to give financial assistance to the company in the building of the new steamer.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman in a position to tell the House what the Cunard Company proposes to do in regard to building 534, now lying at Clydebank?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir, I am afraid that I cannot tell the House what the Cunard Company propose to do. The purport of my answer, which is the considered opinion of the Government, is that if the vessel is to be completed, it must be completed out of the resources at the command of the company
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLIs it not a fact that the Cunard Company are very doubtful whether, with the large cost of the ship, it would pay them to fit the ship and to run her at the present time?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid that I cannot express any opinion on the trading capacity of this ship.
§ Mr. HANNONHas the right hon. Gentleman taken into consideration the 1613 great loss of prestige to this country in the trans-Atlantic trade, vis-a-vis European countries?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir, all those facts have been taken into consideration.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman in a position to tell the House what reply the Cunard Company gave to the Government or to him when they interviewed him or the Cabinet?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have given an answer which covers the question which has been put before us by the Cunard Company. The last communication was by way of letter, and it has been replied to by letter.