§ Mr. Pageasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what percentage of vessels from 300 to 1,000 gross tons were United Kingdom vessels at the latest convenient date; how that percentage compares with that for previous recent years; and what proportion of it is more than fifteen years old.
§ Mr. Watkinson:At the 30th June, 1956, about 19 per cent. of world merchant vessels from 300 to 1,000 gross tons were on the United Kingdom Register. The corresponding percentages for each of the previous five years were as follows:
Date Percentages 30th June. 1951 23 30th June, 1952 22 30th June, 1953 22 30th June, 1954 21 30th June, 1955 20 At the end of 1956 about 55 per cent. of the United Kingdom vessels in this size group were more than fifteen years old.
§ Mr. Pageasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what percentage of vessels from 300 to 1,000 gross tons 73W carrying imports and exports to and from United Kingdom ports are United Kingdom vessels.
§ Mr. Watkinson:I regret that no information is available on which an estimate could be based.