§ Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases of ships built for neutrals by our starred labour there is a clause in the contract providing that these ships can be taken over by the Government?
Mr. RUNCIMANMy information is to the effect that in the case of two of the vessels building for neutral owners provision is made in the contract for the possibility of His Majesty's Government claiming the vessels. As I have stated before, all the vessels now being built for neutral owners will either be sold to British owners or chartered to the Government for the period of the War and some months afterwards, at a rate about half the market rate. All the vessels, when completed, will be employed in the interests of this country.