§ Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade how many ships have been built for neutrals during the War with our own starred labour; how many are now being built; and, of all these ships built and building, in how many cases is there a clause in the contract enabling the British Government to buy these ships at contract price?
Mr. RUNCIMANSince the 28th February, when the Board of Trade was empowered to certify the construction of merchant vessels to be munitions work, three steamers for neutral owners have 629W been completed and chartered to the Government. There are twenty-eight vessels for neutral owners under construction at present. In twenty-one cases certificates have been issued by the Board of Trade, and arrangements have been made that the vessels, when completed, will be used in the interests of this country. As I explained in replying to the hon. Gentleman's question of the 8th November, according to my information, in two cases only has the possibility of His Majesty's Government claiming the vessels been provided for in the contracts. In no case is there a clause enabling the Government to buy the ships at contract prices.