§ Mr. Woollamasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what assurances he has received that British 29W controlled shipping tonnage sailing under flag of convenience registrations will be available for inclusion in the allied pool of merchant shipping in the event of war; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI do not know of any British controlled tonnage sailing under the flags of convenience. Ships owned by British subjects or British companies having their principal place of business within the Commonwealth must, by United Kingdom law, be registered under the British flag.
§ Mr. Woollamasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what assurances were given by the United States Government at the Washington Shipping Conference as to the existence of agreements or understandings with the United States owners of flag of convenience ships by which such ships would be included in the allied pool of merchant shinning in the event of war; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe United States Government have assured Congress that American-owned ships under the flags of Panama, Liberia and Honduras will be made available in the event of war for use in the same way as American flag ships. The arrangements for the pool of merchant shipping in war agreed upon in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will therefore apply to these ships.