HC Deb 23 March 1955 vol 538 cc2073-4
48. Mr. Holt

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many countries are practising flag discrimination against this country's shipping and which they are; and what action Her Majesty's Government is taking to counter this development.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Flag discrimination takes many forms, with varying actual effects upon our shipping. I am circulating in the Official Report a list of 23 countries to which the United Kingdom has made representations on this subject in recent years. The United Kingdom plays a leading part in international action to resist these practices, and the Government take every opportunity to counter them when negotiating trade agreements or commercial treaties.

Mr. Holt

In view of the last part of the answer, why is it that the Government were importing into this country coal and fruit from the United States under flag discrimination quite recently? Can the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that Her Majesty's Government will not in future be a party to any contract which has flag discrimination as a condition?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

That raises very wide questions, but so far as the particular transactions to which the hon. Member has referred, I think he should put down a Question to whichever of my right hon. Friends is concerned.

Following is the list:
Argentina Japan.
Brazil Poland.
Chile Portugal.
Colombia. Rumania.
Cuba Saudi Arabia.
Ecuador Spain.
Egypt Turkey.
Germany Federal Republic United States of America.
Hungary Uruguay.
India Yemen.
Indonesia Yugoslavia.
Israel
Back to