§ Sir J. Jarvisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the extent to which British coastal trade is in Dutch hands; whether this is due mainly to the use of a particular type of vessel or to any other reason; and whether British firms are building more appropriate vessels for employment in this trade?
§ Captain WallaceThe net tonnage of vessels of all nationalities that entered and arrived with cargoes in the coasting trade of the United Kingdom, including their repeated voyages, during 1936 was 56,699,294 tons, of which 477,616 tons or less than 1 per cent. was Dutch, but the incidence of Dutch participation is greater in some trades and in some areas than in others. Information on the points referred to in the latter part of the question is being collected by a Committee set up by the Chamber of Shipping, but I understand that the answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.