§ 5. Mr. Shortasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to increase the duty payable on goods brought into the United Kingdom in ships registered in a country which practises flag discrimination against ships registered in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GreenNo, Sir; but the general question of retaliation against countries practising flag discrimination is kept under review by my right hon. Friends, the Minister of Transport and the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. ShortWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that flag discrimination is probably the biggest difficulty which British shipping has to face? If outright retaliation in kind is not the answer, does not he feel that something on these lines might help? If not, what do the Government propose?
§ Mr. GreenI agree with the hon. Member in deprecating in the strongest possible terms the practice of flag discrimination. But if he has a particular question, I would ask him to address my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on this matter.