HL Deb 07 July 1969 vol 303 c892WA
LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will now supply the information offered by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on May 22 last, when answering a starred question regarding shipping and the use of the Cape Route.

The MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD CHALFONT)

As I explained to the noble Lord on May 22, such figures as we have relate only to British-registered ships and may bear no relation to world trade. During the period of April 9 to May 6, 1969, 179 United Kingdom-registered ships called at South African ports. Of these 73 were known to have been using the Suez Canal before its closure in 1967.