§ 10. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reply he has made to the Canadian Federal Government's request to vary the Commonwealth shipping agreement to prevent British ships carrying from the Great Lakes cargoes picked up at Canadian ports.
§ The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Duncan Sandys)I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Canadian Government's proposal 620 to restrict coastal trade in the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes to ships on the Canadian register. The British Government have felt obliged to accept this change in the terms of the Commonwealth Merchant Shipping Agreement.
§ Dame Irene WardWhy?
§ Mr. DigbyAm I right in thinking that this is a fairly internal trade which is affected? I thought it was affecting trade outside the Commonwealth as well. Would it not be a very unfortunate thing if flag discrimination, which is a bad practice, were to be introduced within the Commonwealth? Will my right hon. Friend do everything he can to avoid misunderstandings on flag discrimination in the Commonwealth?
§ Mr. SandysThe practical effect on British shipping will not be very great, but nevertheless we regret this change since it runs counter to the spirit of equal treatment which the Commonwealth Merchant Shipping Agreement was designed to assure.