§ Sir A. Wilsonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many foreign-owned tramp steamers were transferred to British registry in order to participate in the tramp-shipping subsidy; and how many of those that did so have since been retransferred to foreign registry?
§ Captain WallaceThe British Shipping (Assistance) Act, 1935, provided that vessels transferred from a foreign flag were not eligible for subsidy in respect of the year 1935 unless they had been transferred before 1st January, 1934. Under the British Shipping (Continuance of Subsidy) Act, 1936, vessels which had been transferred to the British flag between 1st January, 1934, and 31st December, 1935, were made eligible for subsidy in respect of 1936, as examination of the information available respecting these vessels led to the conclusion that the general disqualification of these ships could not be justified. Of the 18 transferred vessels, in respect of which subsidy was paid, six have since been transferred to foreign registry, but in only one case to the previous foreign flag.
Vessels transferred from a foreign flag since 1st January, 1936, were not eligible for subsidy in respect of that year or the year 1937.