§ 67. Captain PLUGGEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give a list of those ships built abroad within the last two years for British owners, and especially with the aid of subsidy; and whether he will give the circumstances in each case?
§ Captain WALLACEThere are no official statistics of orders executed abroad for the construction of ships for British owners, but with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving particulars of steamers and motor ships of 100 tons gross and over, which are shown in the returns of the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen as having been built abroad during the last two years, and subsequently registered in the United Kingdom. In no case has the building been assisted under the British Shipping (Assistance) Act. I am unable to state the circumstances in which each of these vessels was ordered, but I understand that, so far as the ships built in Germany are concerned, most of the orders were placed with the object of liquidating frozen credit balances in that country.
§ Captain PLUGGEIs it not a fact that much of this construction that takes place in Germany is under a scheme for liquidating frozen debts? Cannot the Minister take steps to put an end to such a scheme?
§ Captain WALLACEMy answer says that this is the case.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSTo what extent have these ships been built in exchange for exports of margarine from this country?
§ Captain WALLACEI could not say without notice.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the statement in the question correct that there are British owners who are being subsidised for ships which they are having built abroad?
§ Captain WALLACEIf the hon. Member will look at the answer, he will see that I said that in no case has this building been assisted by subsidy.
Miss WARDWill it be possible to obtain through the shipowners federated society the information which the House so urgently requires?
| Steamers and motor ships of 100 tons gross and over shown in the returns of the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen as having been built abroad during the last two years and subsequently registered in the United Kingdom. | ||||||
| Month when registered. | Vessel. | Where and when built. | Gross Tonnage. | |||
| 1935: | ||||||
| March | … | … | M/V. "Alexia" | Germany: 1935 | … | 8,016 |
| May | … | … | M/V. "Auris" | Italy: 1935 | … | 8,030 |
| July | … | … | "Else Rykens" (Fishing Vessel) | Germany: 1935 | … | 266 |
| July | … | … | "Paul Rykens" (Fishing Vessel) | Germany: 1935 | … | 266 |
| August | … | … | "Neil Mackay" (Fishing Vessel) | Germany: 1935 | … | 266 |
| August | … | … | "Peter Hendriks" (Fishing Vessel). | Germany: 1935 | … | 266 |
| August | … | … | M/V. "Eketian" | Germany: 1935 | … | 1,005 |
| September | … | … | S/S. "Andino" | Germany: 1935 | … | 4,569 |
| 1936: | ||||||
| January | … | … | M/V. "Wheelsman" | Holland: 1936 | … | 287 |
| February | … | … | S/S. "Ethiopian" | Germany: 1936 | … | 5,424 |
| February | … | … | S/S. "Nigerian" | Germany: 1936 | … | 5,423 |
| March | … | … | S/S. "Guinean" | Germany: 1936 | … | 5,205 |
| April | … | … | S/S. "Leonian" | Germany: 1936 | … | 5,424 |
| April | … | … | S/S. "Liberian" | Germany: 1936 | … | 5,205 |
| April | … | … | M/V. "Narragansett" | Germany: 1936 | … | 10,389 |
| April | … | … | M/V. "Seminole" | Germany: 1936 | … | 10,389 |