Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will state the policy with regard to the use of ships built in America during the war; and whether they all sail under the American flag or whether any of them are sold, lent or lease-lent to this country?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe merchant vessels, for whose construction contracts were placed by the Admiralty in the United States before the lease-lend legislation in March, 1941, are owned by His Majesty's Government and sail under British flag. Questions of policy as to the use and control of merchant vessels built or building in the United States for the United States Government are matters for that Government. In pursuance of the principles agreed between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States whereby the shipping resources of the two886W countries are deemed to be pooled for the furtherance of the common war effort, there is the closest day-to-day consultation between representatives of my Department and of the U.S. War Shipping Administration, under the guidance of the Combined Shipping Adjustment Boards, as to the employment of these resources.