§ Mr. FREDERICK WHYTEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any British shipbuilding yard is engaged upon orders for owners other than British; if so, how many such orders for 688W neutral shipowners are being executed; and, if there are any in the latter category, whether he has been able to satisfy himself that such orders are not German orders in disguise?
Mr. RUNCIMANShipbuilding yards in the United Kingdom are engaged on orders for other than British owners, and I am informed that twenty-six of the vessels now building have been ordered by neutral shipowners. The Government have full control over the matter, and in the few cases in which facilities for construction have been given, the Board of Trade were satisfied that the ships werebonâ fide neutral ships, and the ships have been fixed to trade in trades approved by us during the War at about half the market rates of freight.