HC Deb 09 May 1939 vol 347 cc275-7
18. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the steamship "Tuscania" which has been sold to Greece is a ship capable of use as a troopship in war time; and what representations to this effect were made by his Department to Messrs. Runcimans, Limited, the managers of the Anchor Line, to which the "Tuscania" belonged prior to the sale?

24 and 25. Mr. Pritt

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether in the contract for the sale of the steamship "Tuscania" to Greek buyers there is any clause prohibiting the resale of the vessel to Germany or other other Power;

(2) whether the steamship "Tuscania" was offered to the Government in connection with the scheme for the reserve of tonnage; and, if so, upon what date?

Mr. Stanley

Although this ship, like any other passenger liner, is capable of use as a troopship the Board of Trade, when approached in December, after consultation with the Admiralty, did not consider it essential in the national interest that this ship should remain on the British register. The sale of the ship was completed before the announcement of the reserve tonnage scheme, but in any case I should not have considered this ship suitable for purchase under the scheme. I am informed that there was no clause in the contract as to resale.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

May I ask whether this ship was delivered to the Greek buyers before or after the British Government had expressed the view that British ships should not be sold abroad?

Mr. Stanley

I do not know about delivery, but certainly the contract was completed before the announcement on the matter of reserved tonnage.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why this vessel was unsuitable to be purchased by the Government? Is he aware that it is not as old as the vessel which is carrying Their Majesties to Canada?

Mr. Stanley

Yes. The anxiety of His Majesty's Government with regard to the requirements of the Mercantile Marine in case of war, is not on the question of ships which can be used as troopships but as to ships which can be used for carrying cargo, and it is to that purpose that I propose to devote the greater part of the amount to be allocated for a reserve of tonnage.

Mr. T. Johnston

Why did not the right hon. Gentleman add a Clause against re-sale?

Mr. Stanley

It was not a case of my adding a Clause against resale, as the contract had been completed. It is the case of sale to a company which is virtually under the Greek Government, and I have no reason to suppose that it will be used for any purpose except that for which it has been purchased.

Mr. Pritt

Is it not elementary that when people want to sell a ship and the Government do not want them to sell, they do it by means of an intermediary? Why not stop the rat-hole?

Mr. Stanley

I do not think it is elementary that the sale of a ship to a regular liner company which is largely under the control of the Greek Government is that the ship will be re-sold to Germany. I would point out, in reply to the implication in the last question, that I can conceive of no military purpose why Germany should want to buy a ship of this kind.

Mr. Pritt

Are not ships made of iron and steel, and does not Germany want iron and steel?

Mr. Stanley

I do not think anybody is going to buy a passenger liner of this expensive type merely for the purpose of converting it into scrap iron and steel.

27. Mr. Bellenger

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of ships which have been transferred from the British register to foreign ownership during the last six weeks; and the names of the owners by whom such transfers were effected?

Mr. Stanley

As the reply involves a tabular statement, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the particulars required in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the particulars:

The names and British owners of the ships of 100 tons gross and over registered in the United Kingdom reported to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen during the six weeks commencing 26th March, 1939, as having had their registers closed on sale to foreign buyers are as follow:

Name of Ship and Owners.