§ I have considered carefully suggestions put forward by the shipping industry for new tax reliefs, but I do not feel able to make proposals about them in this Budget. However, the General Council of British Shipping has suggested that it would be a help to shipping companies, in drawing up their future plans, to have a guarantee that the investment allowance will be retained at its present rate of 40 per cent. for a period of years. I can certainly state that I see no prospect of this special allowance for shipping being withdrawn or reduced during this Parliament.