§ Sir R. Glynasked the President of the Board of Trade how many foreign ships have in the past 12 months been transferred to the British flag; how many shipping companies owning these and other ships have been registered; and in how many instances have these concerns raised their capital by public issue?
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonDuring the year ended 30th September last, 348 ships were reported to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen as having been transferred from foreign to the British flags and either provisionally or permanently registered as British ships. Of the companies owning ships so transferred, 14 were registered in the United Kingdom since the 1st October, 1936. All these companies were registered as private companies and were consequently debarred by Statute from raising capital by public issue.