Mr. DOYLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade in view of the repeated statements of his predecessors that arrangements were being made whereby representatives of British commercial and manufacturing houses would be granted passages on British warships going to distant parts of the world in order to open up their business, how many such representatives have been granted facilities during the last three months, and if any have secured such passage; and whether the difficulty is due to firms not availing themselves of the offer or to causes incidental to the Navy?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe arrangement referred to by my hon. Friend was intended to supplement the provision of passages on merchant vessels under the abnormal conditions then prevailing. Berths have so far been found on ordinary672W liners for applicants to the Department, and it has not been necessary to have recourse to the Admiralty for assistance.