§ 2. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that a number of shipping companies are desirous of selling old ships in order to replace them by modern tonnage, he will lift or relax his ban on the sale of ships to foreign nationals.
§ Mr. BarnesI have every sympathy with the desire of the shipping companies to replace old ships with new ones. For the last 18 months there has, in fact, been virtually no restriction on the sale of the oldest ships to foreigners, and since the end of 1949 I have permitted, subject to assurances of replacement, the freer sale of rather less old tonnage. I am now considering whether a further relaxation is justifiable.