5. Miss Wardasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider initiating conversations with the Scandinavian countries and Russia to discuss the possibility of concluding an agreement which will ensure for British shipping a fair proportion of the carrying trade between Great Britain and these countries?
§ Mr. StanleyThe question of increasing the employment of British ships in the trades of the Soviet Union will be one of the subjects for discussion in any trade negotiations with that country. The possibility of enlarging the scope of British shipping employment in trade with the Scandinavian countries will be borne in mind in any negotiations which may take place in the future for a revision of the trade agreements with those countries.
Miss WardWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it might be useful to have a Ministry of Shipping in view of 1222 the number of problems that ought to be reviewed in connection with shipping?
§ Mr. StanleyOn Tuesday afternoons, when I answer questions dealing with shipping, I am always rather favourably inclined to that suggestion.
§ Mr. A. ReedWill not my right hon. Friend impress on the Shipping Federation the necessity of getting boats suitable for this trade, and can he find out how many are suitable for this timber trade?