§ 14. Colonel Ropner (for Commander Marsden)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the control of the Commonwealth Steam Tug Company, Limited, Bristol, is now in the hands of the Fairplay Towage and Shipping Company, Limited, whose managing directors, who have recently taken up residence in this country, are of German nationality; and whether, in the national interest, he will ensure that vital services of this kind are not allowed to be in other than purely British hands at the present time?
§ Mr. StanleyI am aware that the Fair-play Towage and Shipping Company, Limited, has acquired a controlling interest in the Commonwealth Steam Tug Company, Limited. Although two of the directors of the former company are German-Jewish refugees, the company is qualified under the Merchant Shipping Acts to own British ships, and I do not consider that any special action is called for.