§ 52. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport on what date Her Majesty's Government undertook the insurance of the R.M.S. "Queen Mary"; at what stage in the construction of the ship; and when this responsibility was discharged.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHer Majesty's Government participated in the insurance of the R.M.S. "Queen Mary" from 31st January, 1931, when she was in the early stages of construction, until 31st December, 1949. There still remain a few very minor claims to be settled.
§ Mr. SmithAm I correct in understanding from that reply that the Cunard Company paid the whole cost of the building of the "Queen Mary"; and can the Minister state the amount of subsidy that was paid for the building of the latest United States ship, and who will be the legal owners of it?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI do not think that either of those two generalisations arises out of this Question.
§ 53. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport the number of persons carried by the R.M.S. "Queen Mary" during the war when that ship was on duty as a troopship; the average time taken in crossing the Atlantic; and the shortest time taken on a single voyage during that period.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydR.M.S. "Queen Mary" carried 810,730 persons during her service as a troopship. I regret that information on the other two points is not available, but, in any case, as the hon. Member will appreciate, there were great variations in the route followed.
§ Mr. SmithDoes the Minister admit that this ship has the best record in shipping in the world, that its service in peace is at least as good as, if not better than, any other in the world; and is it not a fact that the "Queen Mary" carried a whole division fully equipped on one voyage during the war?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI feel quite sure that that is generally true.