HC Deb 28 February 1924 vol 170 cc689-90W
Mr. WALLHEAD

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated amount of merchant shipping at present in existence in excess of effective demand?

Mr. ALEXANDER

An unofficial estimate places the total amount of merchant shipping at present laid up throughout the world at about seven million tons.

Mr. WALLHEAD

asked the President of the Board of Trade what difference the raising of the Plimsoll load-line has had upon the carrying capacity of the mercantile marine?

Mr. ALEXANDER

There are no official figures showing the effect on the carrying capacity of the British mercantile marine of the alterations in the load-line Regulations made in 1906. According to an estimate made at the time by a competent authority, the net effect of the change was to increase the carrying capacity of British shipping by about 400,000 tons.