§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Shipping whether he can account for the delays is loading and discharging vessels in a port of which he has been informed?
§ Mr. CrossThe hon. Member has, I believe, in mind certain delays which arose in circumstances which I have explained to him. A particular case of delay which he has mentioned to me was further aggravated by the fact that the vessel carried a mixed cargo of steel and timber, including timber baulks of exceptional lengths requiring special rolling stock which was not at that time available.
§ Commander Bowerasked the Minister of Labour whether he has now been able to make satisfactory arrangements to enable vessels arriving at seaports to be unloaded and loaded by day and night in order to minimise loss of effective tonnage due to delay?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonI have been asked to reply. My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that there are many factors affecting the speed of turn-round of ships in port, but I may mention that in addition to other steps, special arrangements for working overtime to the fullest practicable extent have been made in consultation with my right hon. Friend the. Minister of Labour.