§ 10. Mr. R. C. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that 57 vessels, ranging from 340 to 20,000 tons, are under construction or on order in German shipyards; and, in view of the fact that this total represents nearly three times the tonnage of a year ago, what steps he proposes to take to secure that ships for British companies shall be built in British shipyards?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that the tonnage of merchant vessels now under construction in German yards includes a substantial quantity to the order of British firms, but I have no precise information regarding the number of vessels concerned. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on 16th June.
§ Mr. MORRISONIf I send the right hon. Gentleman a list of the ships being built in Germany together with the British companies for whom they are being built, could he take some action in view of the distressed condition of British shipping?
§ Colonel ROPNERWill the right hon. Gentleman consider once again the possibility of placing something in the nature of an import tax on these foreign-built vessels when they are first registered under the British flag?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWe have no power in the matter, but I shall be glad to receive any information the hon. Member cares to send.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to obtain powers to deal with this important matter? Are we to understand that this valuable amount of tonnage is to be sent abroad in view of all the unemployment that exists here?
§ Mr. BENSONIf I send the right hon. Gentleman figures of the exports of cotton yarn from Lancashire to Germany, will he take into consideration the question of reciprocity in trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI could not undertake to say I will take up any subject of that kind without consideration. If the hon. Member cares to send me particulars, I shall be glad to go into them. With regard to the placing of orders in Germany, I have no powers in the matter whatever. I do not know whether the hon. Member realises that this is one of the methods by which English firms have been able to secure payment of their debts.
§ Mr. PALINGIs this happening under the right hon. Gentleman's scrap-and-build policy?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, it has nothing to do with it.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not one of the manoeuvres of German importers to refuse to pay debts to British exporters so that they can liquidate the cost of building these ships?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt is much more complicated than that.
§ Mr. SHINWELLBefore this matter is finally disposed of will the right hon. Gentleman consult his colleagues in the Cabinet to see if anything can be done?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe hon. Gentleman is really out of date. We have been dealing with this matter now for nearly a year.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODSeeing that they rationalised and closed down shipyards because there were more shipyards in the country than there were ships to build, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire into this business, and do something?