Captain A. EVANSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any announcement to make regarding the present position of British shipping; if he is aware that there are over 60,00 British seamen out of employment; and whether the Government will consider a policy whereby this country's imports are restricted to British tonnage, reservation of all trade between British home ports for British ships, arrangements with the Dominions to reserve all trade between Empire ports to Empire vessels, and re- 330W taliation for any restrictions imposed upon British ships by foreign countries?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware of the facts mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend. The present state of our shipping industry, which is giving the Government much concern, is due in the main to the great reduction of seaborne trade consequent on the economic crisis; and the Government are making every effort by means of trade agreements and otherwise, to alleviate this position. A subsidiary cause of the shipping depression has been the grant of subsidies to their shipping by certain of the principal maritime countries, which have increased the glut of tonnage. A full statement of the Government's views was made to the World Monetary and Economic Conference. I am at all times prepared to consider any steps necessary to remove restrictions imposed upon British ships by foreign countries, but while the other suggestions made are matters for careful consideration in consultation with the industry, I am not at present satisfied that they would be of advantage to British shipping as a whole.