§ 16. Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the financing of tramp-ship building by the State, he can state the estimated percentages of such sums represented by labour and material, respectively; and how much of the latter is imported from abroad?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe precise information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available, but according to the report on the Census of Production, 1930, the cost of materials at that time represented about 52 per cent. and wages of operatives about 28 per cent. of the gross value of the shipbuilding and ship repairing output in Great Britain. Information with regard to the last part of the question is not available.
§ Mr. SMITHDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any steps to avoid the expenditure of public moneys on foreign materials for these ships, as in the case of rivets, when factories in this country are not employed to full capacity?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere have been a good many questions on the subject of rivets in the last two weeks, and there is nothing that I can add to what I have stated.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERCould not the price of rivets be reduced by reducing the duty on steel?
§ Mr. BOULTONrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot have a debate on every question.
§ 17 and 18. Mr. HALL-CAINE,asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that, owing to the fact that Dutch coastal trading vessels are subsidised by their own Government, they are able to undercut our cargo boats, with the result that numerous small shipping firms are suffering severe losses and unemployment is being caused among British seamen; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this position;
(2) whether, in view of the damage to British shipping caused by the undercutting by foreign ships, he will consider prohibiting foreign-owned vessels, of less than 1,000 tons, trading from port to port round the coasts of Great Britain?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that in recent months there has been an increase in the tonnage of vessels under foreign flags arriving at and departing from United Kingdom ports in the coasting trade, and the position is being watched. Apart from difficulties arising out of treaty obligations, it is by no means certain that the action suggested in question No. 18 would be to the benefit of British shipping. With regard to Dutch vessels in the coasting trade, my information suggests that they are not in receipt of subsidy from the Dutch Government.
Captain ARTHUR EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Great Western Railway Company to the increase of shipping in docks in South Wales with a view to persuading them not to curtail facilities for British ships in those ports?