§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many idle ships were laid up in the Clyde waterways including the Gareloch on 24th June, 1939, and the corresponding tonnage, and what were the comparable figures for 17th June, 1939, 31st December, 1938, 30th June, 1937, and 30th June, 1936?
§ Mr. StanleyThe most recent figures of laid-up tonnage in my possession relate to the 1st April, 1939. According to the quarterly returns published by the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, vessels laid up in the Clyde on the undermentioned dates were as follow:
Date. Vessels. Thousand tons net. 1st July, 1936: British 8 31 Foreign 1 3 1st July, 1937 British 2 * Foreign — — 1st July, 1938: British 7 20 Foreign 2 9 1st January, 1939: British 11 27 Foreign 1 5 1st April, 1939: British 12 35 Foreign 2 11 *Less than 500 tons net