HC Deb 02 May 1939 vol 346 cc1686-7
26. Mr. Logan

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many vessels have been built in Germany and on the Continent during the past five years to the order of British shipowners; and will he furnish the names of the directors of these ship-owning concerns?

Mr. Stanley

According to the returns of the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, 135 new vessels built abroad were added to the United Kingdom register during the years 1934 to 1938, inclusive. All of these were built in Europe, and 49 of them in Germany. As regards the second part of the question, I am not clear that the information desired would be of sufficient importance to justify the labour involved in compiling it.

Mr. Logan

Is there any truth in the statement that a Member of the Government in another place is one of these delinquents? Is it not possible to bring home to these hon. Gentlemen the enormity of this matter?

Mr. Stanley

I think that, if the hon. Gentleman makes an insinuation against a member of the Government, he ought to state who it is and all particulars.

Mr. Logan

If you require names, I can give them.

Mr. Stanley

With regard to the enormity of the offence, it has been pointed out on many occasions during the last five years that there have been numerous instances where, owing to sterilisation of credits, it was the only way in which owners could get ships built at all.

Mr. Logan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have had representations from shipowners in Liverpool complaining about this difficulty, and saying it is unpatriotic? Can it not be remedied?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward

Is it any more unpatriotic to buy a foreign-built ship than to buy a foreign-built motor car?