§ 33. Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information as to the amount of shipping in tonnage which is lying idle; and if he can state approximately the cost per diem to the shipowners for the maintenance of such vessels?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAAccording 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 1,946,000 tons. I am unable to give any estimate of the cost to shipowners of maintaining vessels laid up.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the statement made in one of the Committee Rooms upstairs by a right hon. Gentleman, that it was costing shipowners from £5 to £7 per day for the upkeep of ships laid up?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHANo, Sir, I was not aware of that statement.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs there any differentiation in the classes of ships laid up, and will the hon. Gentleman inquire whether it is not the fact that practically no motor ships are laid up and that all the ships which are laid up are coal-burning steamships, which are obsolete, while the motor ships are all busy?