§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that, since British Railways withdrew ships from cross-Channel routes to France and Belgium because they were losing money, they have been replaced by Swedish ships under private enterprise which are running at a profit ; and if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British Railways to investigate this situation and to take action to prevent further losses in its other activities ; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe Railways Board withdrew its ships from the Southampton-Le Havre and Southampton and Weymouth-St. Malo services in 1964 and 1965 83W respectively, because they were running at a loss. My right hon. Friend has no access to the accounts of the foreign shipping company now operating on the former route. The Board has not withdrawn any services to Belgium.
84WThe Board's shipping services as a whole are profitable and they should be allowed freedom of management to deploy them as they see fit within their statutory authorities. A general direction would not be appropriate.