HC Deb 11 July 1989 vol 156 c459W
96. Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total tonnage of merchant shipping which could be requisitioned for supplying reinforcements during a war.

Mr. Portillo

At the end of April 1989, 71 British flag dry cargo vessels, totalling 1.8 million deadweight tonnes, were earmarked for carrying transatlantic reinforcement equipment and supplies to Europe. All this tonnage could be requisitioned.