§ 14. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many vessels were transferred from the British to the Panama flag in 1951 and 1952; what was the tonnage involved; how many were of new construction; and how many secondhand.
§ Mr. MolsonIn 1951 and 1952 75 ships of 426,000 gross tons were transferred from the United Kingdom and colonial registers to Panama. Five ships of 62,000 gross tons were also completed in British yards for first registry in Panama.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a large part of the shipping sold to Panama is slum shipping, some of it 30 years old? Is he not aware that a large amount of the shipping owned by Panama companies is under the control of nationals of other countries, who sail under the Panama flag because they can evade the obligations of the I.L.O., and is he doing anything about that?
§ Mr. MolsonIn considering whether or not to allow the transfer of tonnage from the British register to other registers, my Department is influenced by considerations of national security and not by considerations relating to I.L.O. Conventions.
§ Mr. NabarroWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that the figure of the tonnage of shipping which he indicated as having been transferred to Panama—426,000 tons—represents only 2 per cent. of the total British Mercantile Marine tonnage and is, therefore, practically nugatory?