HC Deb 12 April 1938 vol 334 cc922-3
37. Mr. Storey

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of cargo-carrying vessels, other than tankers, owned in the United Kingdom which are over 25 years old, at the latest convenient date; and similar figures for the Dominions and for the British Colonies?

Captain Wallace

The available statistics of vessels over 25 years old do not distinguish cargo-carrying vessels from other vessels. Taking all descriptions of steam and motor vessels of 'co tons gross and over registered in Great Britain and Ireland on 1st July, 1937, the vessels of 25 years of age and over aggregated 1,557,566 tons gross. The corresponding figure for the Dominions and Colonies was 850,038 tons gross. These figures include tankers and non-trading vessels.

38. Mr. Storey

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of cargo-carrying vessels, other than tankers, owned in the United Kingdom at the latest convenient date and the corresponding date in 1913; and similar figures for the Dominions and for the British Colonies?

Captain Wallace

As the answer is long and includes a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The gross tonnage of steam and motor vessels of 100 tons gross and over, excluding tankers, registered in Great Britain and Ireland on 1st July, 1937, was 14,903,000. It is estimated that the tonnage of tramps, cargo liners and combined passenger and cargo liners included in this total amounted to about 12,800,000 tons gross. Steam and motor tonnage of 100 tons gross and over, including tankers, registered in Great Britain and Ireland on 1st July, 1913, amounted to 18,274,000 tons gross. The vessels included cannot readily be classified, but on the basis of such information as is available it is probable that the gross tonnage of tramps, cargo liners and combined passenger and cargo liners included in the total was about 16,000,000. The gross tonnage of all descriptions of British steam and motor vessels of 100 tons gross and over registered at ports outside Great Britain and Ireland was 2,610,000 on 1st July, 1937, and 1,575,000 on 1st July, 1913. Information is not available to classify the vessels.