§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the report of Lord Rochdale's Committee of Inquiry into Shipping.
§ Mr. Mason:The report was published today. I am most grateful to Lord Rochdale and his colleagues for the thorough and conscientious way in which they have carried out their task and for all the hard work they have put in over a period of more than two years.
This is the first comprehensive official review of the British shipping industry ever undertaken and will be of the utmost value. Its conclusions will be carefully studied by the Government. Extensive consultations with the many interests concerned will however be necessary before the Government is in a position to express a view on its many recommendations. These will begin immediately and I shall welcome the comments of all interested parties. I can assure the House that these will be fully considered before final decisions are taken.
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