HC Deb 13 August 1947 vol 441 cc259-60W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Transport if he will indicate the number of ships still under the control of his Department, according to type and of over 3,000 tons, showing the numbers employed on passenger and freight services, respectively.

Mr. Barnes

The employment of all vessels registered in the U.K. is subject to my control by licence or direction, but I assume the hon. Member to refer to vessels in the following classes, as being under my direct control, namely:—

  1. (i) Government-owned ships;
  2. (ii) Ships under requisition;
  3. (iii) Vessels of other countries, mainly American and Canadian, on bareboat charter to the Ministry; and
  4. (iv) Foreign vessels on time charter to the Ministry.

Information regarding these ships is not readily available in the precise form requested by the hon. Member, but the following table gives particulars of those of 1,600 gross tons and over at the end of July, 1947.

TABLE
(i) Vessels owned by the United Kingdom Government:
Number. Gross Tons.
Passenger vessels including Passenger Cargo Vessels 38 428,000
Cargo Vessels 138 694,000
Total Non-tankers 176 1,122,000
Tankers (mainly Admiralty freighters) 64 432,000
(ii) Vessels under requisition by the United Kingdom Government:
Number. Gross Tons.
Passenger Vessels including Passenger Cargo Vessels 66 1,016,000
Cargo Vessels 9 53,000
Total Non-tankers 75 1,069,000
Tankers Nil

(NOTE.—Approximately 50 per cent. of this tonnage was being reconditioned at the end of July for return to commercial traders and arrangements have been made for the early reconditioning of a considerable proportion of the remainder).

(iii) Vessels on bareboat charter to the Ministry of Transport from other countries:
Number. Gross Tons.
Passenger Vessels including Passenger Cargo Vessels 16 121,000
Cargo Vessels 248 1,632,000
Total Non-tankers 264 1,753,000
Tankers Nil
(iv) Vessels on time charter to the Ministry of Transport from other countries:
Number. Gross Tons.
Passenger Vessels including Passenger Cargo Vessels Nil Nil
Cargo Vessels 42 108,000
Total Non-tankers 42 108,000
Tankers Nil