asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when considering applications by liner companies operating Atlantic routes for inclusion in the provisions of the Shipping Defence Bill, he will give an assurance that he will endeavour to obtain better, more frequent and cheaper communication between this country and Newfoundland, Bermuda and the West Indies, and to make it a condition that more of the liners sailing to Canadian ports shall call at St. Johns on the outward and home-ward voyages; and will he refuse assistance where agreements exist with foreign shipping companies which limit the nature of the services which may be made available to British Dominions and Colonies?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state for the last available date, the annual total exports of cotton apparel from this country; total imports under the same heading into this country; and value of such imports from Japan?

I regret that it is not possible to furnish the precise information desired, as the official trade returns only distinguish certain descriptions of apparel made of cotton; but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the particulars available for the year 1938.

If the occasion arises, the considerations referred to by my hon. Friend will be kept in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the Imperial Shipping Committee is considering the present services to and from the West Indies and this country; whether their attention has been drawn to the new British competition with the existing British lines; and whether they have made any report;

(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the intrusion of the Blue Star Line into the West Indies trade with serious results for the existing lines; whether he is aware that this line serves the trade only in one direction and that the existing lines cannot maintain their full services in face of this competition and are withdrawing the only British passenger service that has for long competed with foreign passenger services; can he say in what country these Blue Star Line vessels were built; and whether he will investigate if this recent development is in the interests of British shipping as a whole?

I am aware of the developments in the West Indies trade referred to. According to the advertisements in the Press, the new outward cargo service from the United Kingdom by Blue Star Line is carried on by nine vessels, five of which were built in the United Kingdom. The Imperial Shipping Committee is at present engaged upon an inquiry into West Indian shipping facilities, and I am informed that their attention has been drawn to the new service and that they are considering its effects. I am not in a position to comment on the matter in advance of their report, which I understand may be expected in the autumn.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the existing passenger service is being withdrawn in the next month, and may be withdrawn before the report is published?

When a matter of this kind is under consideration by a committee of this importance, it cannot be dealt with before the report is issued.

Does not this give the lie to the statement that competition is essential?

Is it not a fact that the principal competition in the West Indies service is by larger and faster foreign vessels?

That is another point which the committee is considering.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any second-hand tonnage has been

Negotiations for the purchase of six vessels for the Merchant Ship Reserve have been completed, and I expect that the contracts will be signed shortly. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate details of the vessels in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will it include the price paid by His Majesty's Government for these vessels?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is that one vessel which was offered some months ago for £17,500 has been purchased by the Government at £20,000, and it is a vessel 20 years old?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question.

Did I not ask that question in the course of the recent Debate and did not the Government fail to reply?

If the hon. Member will put down a specific question I will reply.

If what the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) says is correct, what action are the Government going to take in the matter?

Very careful arrangements are made for these ships to be valued, and I am perfectly prepared to trust the valuation of those who advise us.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say on whose advice he acts in these purchases?

I have an advisory committee, and I have the Board of Trade surveyors.

What do they know-about values?