§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of War Transport, whether, in the interest of the large number of persons desiring to rejoin their relatives overseas, it can be made a condition of the return to their owners of the larger liners 178W that these vessels shall not be docked for general reconditioning, as opposed to urgent repairs, before the autumn.
§ Mr. BarnesIt will not be possible to release from trooping service more than a very few of our larger passenger liners during the next few months. These ships have been specially fitted to carry the maximum numbers of troops in conditions acceptable only to meet war needs, and have seen very hard service. It would be quite impracticable to use them for the transport of large numbers of civilian passengers of both sexes without extensive reconversion and reconditioning. I am aware of the large numbers of persons anxious to secure sea passages, as also are the shipping companies, and the hon. Member may rely on it that everything possible will be done to meet this requirement.