§ Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Prime Minister how many ships flying the British flag have reported their being attacked in the ports or territorial waters of Republican Spain during the civil war, to the last available date; how many of these ships had been transferred to the British flag since the outbreak of hostilities; how many had been in the possession of the owners or companies making the complaint, prior to July, 1936; how many belonged to persons or companies that traded in those waters prior to the civil war; and how many were on charter to the Republican Government at the time of the attack?
§ Mr. StanleyI have been asked to reply. Ninety-nine vessels have, according to my information, been damaged, more or less seriously, by hostile action when in the ports and territorial waters referred to. Of these, 20 came on to the British register after the outbreak of the civil war, and of the remainder 27 belonged to the same British owners before1094W that date. I cannot say how many belonged to persons or companies that traded in those waters prior to the civil war, but 72 were owned at the time of damage by British persons or companies operating as ship owners or managers before the beginning of the civil war. I am not in possession of information which would enable me to answer the last part of the question.