§ 82. Lieut.-Colonel MOOREasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information to show what is the aggregate tonnage of foreign shipping at present in existence which was previously owned by British firms and sold at second-hand to foreign owners?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)I regret that the information desired by my hon. and gallant Friend is not available.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MOOREWill my hon. Friend request his right hon. Friend to use his influence to ensure that when our shipping is broken up it shall not be sold to foreign countries who have no Board of Trade regulations similar to ours and are, therefore, able to compete with our shipping very unfairly?
§ Dr. BURGINI think that the whole question of what to do with obsolete tonnage is constantly under consideration by my right hon. Friend.