HC Deb 18 October 1944 vol 403 c2378
63. Major Peto

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport to what extent ships are still sailing from North Africa to England without cargoes.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Mr. Noel-Baker)

Save in certain exceptional cases, no vessel now returns from the Mediterranean to the United Kingdom in ballast. It may occasionally happen, however, that, for operational reasons, this must be done.