§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Shipping whether he can state the price paid for the ss. "Empire Otter," purchased from the United States of America; what sums have been spent on the vessel since she was purchased; and what has been her average speed since she was taken under the British flag?
§ Mr. CrossThe price paid was 675,000 dollars. A number of defects has had to be remedied, but I have not yet received particulars of the cost. It is not in the public interest, in present circumstances, to state the speed of named vessels.
§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Shipping how many, and which, vessels were acquired from the United States of America which have been found unsuitable for seagoing work and which have been used for block ships; the amount paid for these vessels and what sums have been spent on them since acquisition?
§ Mr. CrossNone of the vessels acquired from the United States of America has been found unsuitable for seagoing work. One of them, however, requiring repairs on arrival was provisionally allocated to the Admiralty but has been returned for commercial service; neither this nor any other of the vessels had in fact been used as a block ship. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.