§ 5.19 p.m.
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.
§ [The question was as follows:]
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether the steamer route to Ireland via Fishguard and Rosslare has yet been re-opened: and if not, when this service may be expected to be resumed.]
§ LORD WALKDENMy Lords, I regret that I am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to make a suitable ship available for this service.
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREMy Lords, as the noble Lord and the Minister are 648 aware, this steamship service is the only one which formerly plied between Great Britain and Eire which has not been either restored or in a great measure improved. Do they realize that the absence of this service causes great inconvenience to traders and those who wish to proceed from the south of England to the southern part of Eire?
LORD VVALKDENMy Lords, I am aware of the facts and I have especially impressed them on my right honourable friend, but he informs me that of the little vessels that operated this service before the war the "St. Andrew" is the only one now in existence and that she is fully occupied in bringing troops from the Continent to England and cannot be spared at present through the need for moving as many troops as possible. We are exceedingly sorry that that is the position, but, as soon as something can be done to meet the wishes of our Southern Ireland friends, that certainly will be done.