§ Mr. RAINEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can inform the House of the number of British steamers which have been sent to Holland for repairs during the past six months; and is he aware that during the past three weeks two orders for repairs of British steamers, involving a cost of £40,000, have been secured by Dutch repairers through the operation of the bounty of 30 per cent. on wages, which is given jointly by the Netherlands Government and the municipalities in which the said Dutch repairing works are situated?
Mr. WEBBI am informed that since the 1st September 33 British vessels of 109,408 tons register tonnage have arrived in Holland for the specific purpose of undergoing repairs, and that within the last three weeks three British steamers have entered Rotterdam for extensive repairs, in none of these cases, however, is there any evidence that a bounty on wages is being granted.