§ 8. Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry has taken place in his Department to investigate the Board of Trade's shipping statistics; has he received any report as a result of such inquiry; if so, what steps does he intend to take to rectify the existing basis on which shipping statistics are calculated; and will he issue a White Paper on the report in due course?
§ Dr. BurginNo such inquiry has taken place, and no alteration is being made at present in the method of compiling the statistics of shipping movements. In order to provide information not hitherto available, arrangements have been made under which, from 1st January, 1936, the information collected in respect of the oversea trade of this country has included particulars of the nationality of the vessels conveying the goods, and statistics based on these particulars will be published later this year.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisCan the Parliamentary Secretary say when we are likely to have the information?
§ Dr. BurginI have said "later this year," and I am afraid that I can give no more precise date.
§ Mr. AdamsonCan the Parliamentary Secretary say what "nationality" means in this case?
§ Dr. Burgin"Nationality" means in this case the port of register of the vessel and the flag she flies.