§ 53. Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet in possession of the information required by him from the shipping industry to enable the Government to decide upon a policy which will protect shipping from the competition of foreign shipping subsidies?
54. Mr. TEMPLE MORRISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make any statement as to Government assistance to the British Mercantile Marine?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have received a great deal of information from the 482 shipping industry, but I cannot at present add to the answer which I gave on this subject on the 6th March.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman contemplating the use of the tariff weapon on goods coming from countries which indulge in shipping subsidies?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANEvery aspect of the shipping problem is under consideration.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWhen the right hon. Gentleman is considering a subsidy to the shipping industry, will he bear in mind the Lancashire cotton textile industry?
§ Sir BASIL PETOAre we likely to have any legislation in regard to this urgent question before Parliament adjourns for the Summer Recess?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot say at this stage whether it will be necessary to have any legislation. There are other ways of dealing with these problems. The problems have so many aspects that I am afraid I cannot give any indication in regard to legislation at this moment.
§ Mr. MAXTONIf the Government are not prepared to introduce legislation, when do they propose to do some of the other things that the President of the Board of Trade knows about?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThey are doing something now.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman tell me what they are doing?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf the hon. Member cares to put down a question, I shall be delighted to answer it.
§ Mr. MAXTONWhy waste time? Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman tell us now?