§ 78. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the Annual Report of the Chamber of Shipping, a copy of which has been sent to him, which criticises Government Departments for causing dislocation in shipping owing to Government trading in bulk purchase; and if he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of these conditions.
§ Mr. BarnesYes, but I am unable to agree that the shipping dislocation referred to in the Report is due to bulk purchase. It is due to the exceptionally heavy demands which have been made in recent months for tonnage for the carriage of bulk cargoes to this and other countries. I should like to take this opportunity of acknowledging the great assistance which the British shipping industry and the Baltic Exchange are giving me in dealing with the situation.