HC Deb 05 February 1918 vol 101 c2126W
Sir E. LAMB

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a. certain cargo vessel has for some time past been carrying home-grown wheat from Sutton Bridge, King's Lynn, and Wisbech to Newcastle, her average number of trips being two a week, and some few days ago was sunk with a cargo of about 1,200 quarters of such home-grown wheat on board; and, if so, whether, in view of the recognised shortage of food in this country, such cargoes will be conveyed in future by land?

Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEY

I have been asked to answer this question. I regret to say that the vessel in question was sunk by the enemy. Foodstuffs are carried coastwise only when there is an absence of inland transport facilities, and the Shipping Controller is constantly in touch with the railway executive on the subject.