§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many British vessels were transferred to ports of foreign registry during each of the last three years; and how many of these vessels, respectively, were also transferred to foreign owners?
§ Mr. CrossThe numbers of vessels of 100 tons gross and over registered at ports in the United Kingdom which were reported to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen as having their register closed on account of transfer to foreign flags were as follows: 143 in 1936, 222 in 1937 and 149 in 1938. All these ships were reported as sold to foreign owners.