§ 34. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many vessels are laid up in our ports and estuaries; how many of these are tankers; what tonnage they represent; and how the position today compares with the same period last year.
§ Mr. NeaveAccording to the information available in my Department, there are 66 ships registered in the United Kingdom, amounting to 333,650 gross tons, which are now laid up in ports and estuaries of the United Kingdom. Of these, 24 are tankers, totalling 203,576 gross tons or 297,256 deadweight tons. In addition, there are 29 ships of foreign flags amounting to 183,705 gross tons; none of these are tankers. In January, 1957, four ships, all registered in the United Kingdom, totalling 9,800 gross tons, were laid up in the United King-dam. These figures exclude ships under repair.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that for eighteen years there have been very few ships laid up in our ports and estuaries, and that it is only during the last twelve months or so that the number has increased considerably? What is the use of calling for increased production for our export trade when our ships are lying up in our ports with nothing to do?
§ Mr. NeaveI am sure the hon. Gentleman will share my hope that the decline in the past few months in the oil and dry cargo trade rates, which has a great deal to do with this, is a temporary one.