§ Mr. HARTSHORNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller, with reference to the fact that 50 per cent. of cargo liner space is at the disposal of the Government at Blue Book rates, if he will, by reference to an actual recent voyage of a ship of which 50 per cent. of the space was requisitioned, state the total freight earnings of the voyage, and the average freight rate per ton for the Government and private portions of the cargo, respectively, with details of the cargo and the freight rate charged for each item?
§ Colonel LESLIE WILSONI regret that the information which the hon. Member desires with regard to the freight on private cargo is not available. Fifty per cent. of the space of all vessels on the North Atlantic lines is being taken in the month of December, and the freight is on the basis of 42s. 6d. per ton. The same percentage is being taken on the Plate, South African, and Australian lines, at corresponding rates.
§ Mr. HARTSHORNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller, with reference to the fact that 50 per cent. of liner space is at Govern- 70W meat disposal at Blue Book rates, and that the balance of Government requirements is met by the direction of tramps from time to time, if he will say how much space in liners or tramps was actually requisitioned at Blue Book rates in the most recent month for which the particulars can be given?
§ Colonel WILSONThe amount of Government cargo which arrived in the United Kingdom during the month of October, and which was brought in privately-owned British ships at Blue Book rates, was approximately 610,000 tons.