HC Deb 20 December 1938 vol 342 cc2656-7
18. Mr. Shinwell

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of contracts placed by British shipowners for vessels built or building in foreign yards in the past three years?

Mr. Stanley

No, Sir, I have no means of knowing the value of shipbuilding orders placed abroad.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in another place, a figure was given; and does he accept the figure which was then stated?

Mr. Stanley

I do not know what figure was given, and, as I have said, I have no official knowledge of whether it is accurate or not.

Mr. J. J. Davidson

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman's Department take the necessary steps to find out the value of these contracts?

Mr. Stanley

No, Sir, we have no power and no means of asking the people who place these contracts abroad, what the prices of those contracts are.

Mr. Davidson

Even with a majority Government?

Mr. Kirkwood

Is the Minister not aware of the fact that last year Holland built 24,000 tons of shipping for this country?

Mr. Stanley

I have been asked before and have given an answer as to the number of ships and the tonnage. What I cannot do is to give an answer as to the value.

Sir M. Barclay-Harvey

Is it not a fact that the Co-operative Society ordered a ship to be built in Holland?

Mr. Stanley

I am not prepared to answer that.