§ 70. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Transport if he will specify the shipping companies who receive subsidies of approximately £14,500 a month towards maintaining steamship services between the Western Highland and Islands and £41,500 a month to assist coastwise trading; on what basis these payments are made; and what Government control is exercised in respect of this public expenditure.
§ 75. Mr. Piratinasked the Minister of Transport which are the shipping lines to which subsidies are paid; what are the amounts paid to each; how long these have been paid; and for how long it is intended to continue these subsidies.
§ Mr. BarnesThe information is as follows:
Steamship Services between the Western Highlands and Islands
The payment of approximately £14,500 a month is made to David MacBrayne, Limited, under an agreement dated 3rd June, 1947, between the Minister of Transport, the Postmaster-General and the company, approved by the House of Commons on 30th June, 1947, and subsequently extended to the end of 1948. The accounts of the company are subject to audit by my Department and their rates and fares may only be changed with my consent.
Coastwise Trade:
Liner Freight Equalisation Scheme
The following are the companies qualified to receive payments under this scheme:
- Aberdeen, Newcastle and Hull Steam Co., Ltd.
- The Aberdeen Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.
- Clyde Shipping Co., Ltd.
- Clyde and Cambeltown Shipping Co., Ltd.
- Coast Lines, Ltd.
- Dundee, Perth and London Shipping Co., Ltd.
- Free Trade Wharf Co., Ltd.
- Wm. France Fenwick and Co., Ltd.
178 - The General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.
- London Scottish Lines, Ltd.
- The North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.
- Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd.
- Wm. Sloan and Co.
- Tyne-Tees Steam Shipping Co., Ltd.
The amounts paid to individual companies depend upon the amount of traffic carried, but the current total is approximately £41,500 per month. Payments are made against evidence of shipment of certain selected commodities and amount to 25 per cent. of the actual freight received for carriage of those commodities. The terms of the scheme are settled from time to time by my Department and payments are made after checking of certified manifests submitted by the companies. Test audits are also applied by my officers. The scheme has been in operation since March, 1946, and is subject to review before the end of September next.