§ Mr. ADAMSONasked the first Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the Board of Trade engage in the charter of vessels for the other defence departments and the India Office without incurring brokers' commission, he will, in the case of future charterings of Admiralty oil-tankers, seek the assistance of the Board of Trade?
Mr. LINDSAYNo, Sir. The Board of Trade charter commercial vessels for the use of defence departments (including the Admiralty) and the India Office without 635W incurring a broker's commission because it is the practice for broker's commission to be paid by the owners of the vessels. The Admiralty would, therefore, have nothing to gain by the action proposed by the hon. Member, as when Government vessels are chartered to commercial firms the Government Department concerned are the owners and would consequently pay broker's commission.