asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the steamer "Kerman," owned by the British Tanker Company, Limited, and running in connection with the Anglo Persian Oil Company, has ever been requisitioned, or whether she has been free to trade between the Persian Gulf and India and between India and French Mediterranean ports, the owners obtaining the benefit of the entire freights; whether, in addition to any Government capital invested in these boats, there are also private shareholders; and why these vessels have not been requisitioned by the Government?

This vessel was trading under licence for the Anglo Persian Oil Company until the middle of this month, when she was requisitioned to meet a new and more urgent demand.