§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement about the Committee of Inquiry into Shipping.
§ Mr. JayYes. I am glad to say that Lord Rochdale has accepted my invitation to be Chairman of this Committee. The Committee will be known as the Committee of Inquiry into Shipping and its terms of reference will be as follows
To review, in the light of current commercial and technological developments, the organisation and structure of the United Kingdom shipping industry, its methods of operation and any other factors which affect its efficiency and competitiveness; and to recommend what action should be taken by shipowners, seafarers and Government, to bring about changes which would improve the position of the industry in these respects.99WThe Committee is to be concerned primarily with the shipping activities of persons resident in the United Kingdom, though it may take into account, to the extent that it finds them relevant, similar activities of other persons in respect of any ship registered in the United Kingdom. The Committee is to have regard to the international character of the industry, including the effects of the actions and regulations of foreign and other Commonwealth Governments and to the nature of the relations between governments on shipping matters. The Committee should also take account of the first and subsequent Reports of Lord Pearson's Court of Inquiry into certain matters concerning the shipping industry.