Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the 818W 6.2 per cent. of increased active shipping in April is mainly spread over all sea routes, or whether it represents any special trade activity between this country and any other or whether it is mainly composed of vessels on cruises?
§ Mr. H0RE-BELISHAIt is assumed that the 6.2 per cent. which my hon. Friend quotes is the relative decrease in the amount of tonnage reported as laid up at ports of Great Britain and Ireland on 1st April, 1932, as compared with, the return for 1st April, 1931, such decrease amounting to 120,000 tons net. The official navigation statistics do not indicate that the aggregate tonnage of British shipping engaged in the foreign trade of this country is greater than a year ago.