§ 34. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether he can indicate the average cost per ton for building cargo vessels, and the price at which ships have changed hands during the last year?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Sir Victor Warrender)I have been asked to reply. The cost per ton of new merchant construction varies considerably according to the speed, size and equipment of the vessel concerned. It is not, therefore, possible to strike an average cost per ton which would have any significance. I can, however, say that the 471 general level of prices for cargo vessels completed to Government account up to the end of 1940 is about 16 per cent, above the prices prevailing in April, 1939. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer to a similar Question addressed by him to my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping.