§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the outstanding liabilities of shipowners in respect of reparation vessels sold to them by the Government; what arrangement exists for the payment of these accounts; and what are the names of the firms involved?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThe outstanding liabilities of shipowners in respect of reparation vessels purchased by them amount to £1,240,820, payable in annual instalments aggregating at present £235,000, plus interest. There are five shipping firms involved. It is not usual to publish particulars of transactions of this kind without the purchaser's permission.