§ 12 and 13. Sir Ronald Rossasked the Minister of Transport (1) what is the combined gross tonnage of ships now carrying passengers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and that of the ships normally available for this purpose in July, 1938;
(2) whether he is aware that the ships now running between Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be incapable of carrying the normal summer passenger traffic; and what steps he proposes to take to enable this traffic to be carried adequately.
§ Mr. BarnesThe total gross tonnage of ships carrying passengers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is at present 24,586 compared with 48,111 in July, 1938. I hope that later this year there will be an addition to these services of three vessels totalling some 8,000 gross tons which, after long war service, are now being reconverted and repaired. I am aware that with the lifting of restrictions of travel to Northern Ireland it is possible that tonnage may not be adequate for the traffic, but, having regard to the existing state of repair facilities and to the acute general shortage of passenger vessels, there is little prospect of further additional tonnage being made available this year.
§ Sir R. RossWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake that, in catering for tourist traffic to Continental countries, he will see that it is possible for tourists to go all over the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. BarnesCertainly, but the hon. Gentleman should keep in mind that this service has been treated reasonably and fairly as compared with similar services.
§ Sir R. RossIs there any other service that still has only half the tonnage it had in peacetime?
§ Mr. BarnesOh, yes.
§ 14. Sir R. Rossasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that ships carrying cargo between Londonderry and the ports of Heysham and Liverpool do not run on predictable dates or at regular intervals, as they did before the war; and whether he will now restore regularity to the running of these services.
§ Mr. BarnesSailings on the Londonderry—Liverpool service have been recently interrupted by the necessity of surveys to the vessel concerned. How- ever, I am informed that the regular prewar weekly service has now been resumed. The frequency of sailings on the Londonderry—Heysham service has been reduced from twice a week to three times a fortnight by the slower turnround in Heysham. The question of improving the turnround is now under discussion between the company and the dock authorities.