HC Deb 07 April 1948 vol 449 cc150-1
24 Mr. Hollis

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) what was the amount of British tonnage lost en route to, or from, Russia during the war;

(2) what were the Royal Naval losses in men and ships in duties en route to, or from, Russia during the war;

(3) what number of British merchant seamen's lives were lost in convoys taking supplies to Russia during the war.

The Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. John Duģdale)

As stated in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for the New Forest and Christchurch (Colonel CrosthwaiteEyre) on 13th March, 1946, 2,055 officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were killed, and 19 of His Majesty's ships were sunk. The number of Merchant Navy officers and men killed was approximately 525, and the tonnage of British Merchant shipping sunk amounted to 208,537 gross tons.

Mr. Hollis

Would the Parliamentary Secretary take all possible steps to remind both the Russian people and people of this and other countries of these and similar statistics?

Mr. Duģdale

I hope that the Question asked by the hon. Member and my reply will receive adequate publicity in the Soviet Press.

Sir W. Smithers

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that the present Russian intransigence is the measure of their gratitude for all those sacrifices?

Mr. Speaker

That has nothing to do with this Question.