asked the Minister of Shipping whether the fullest consideration was given when the terms of payment for requisitioning were fixed, to the necessity of British shipping being in a strong financial position on the termination of hostilities, to enable them successfully to compete with foreign shipping?

Yes, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements on this subject which were made by my predecessor and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary during the course of the Debate on Shipping on 18th March last.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the requisitioning rate will give ship-owners a sufficient amount to enable them to build up their reserve for replacement, and at the same time give them a reasonable return on their capital?

I think that is a point which must be present in all our minds when we are negotiating these details.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he can now make a statement on the negotiations in connection with the rates for hire of requisitioned vessels?

Proposals resulting from negotiations with the representative bodies were recently put before their constituent members and are now under their consideration.

Is not the case that an agreement has been reached with the liner companies; and cannot hon. Members be informed of the terms of that agreement?

Briefly the position is that the cargo liner companies have expressed their agreement in principle but there are subsidiary details, which are still being negotiated.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is highly undesirable to have discontent in the shipping industry over this matter and that it is highly desirable to have a speedy termination of these negotiations?

Yes, Sir, I am doing and will do everything in my power to see that they are concluded as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he can now give an answer to the letter from the hon. Member for Newcastle, Central, dated 12th February, 1940, on the subject of compensation to traders on the requisitioning of ships?

As I have informed my hon. Friend, the issues which he raised affect other Departments besides the Ministry of Shipping. They are at present under active consideration.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that this is a very urgent matter, to save certain ship-owners from going bankrupt?

Is compensation to traders for the requisitioning of ships to be comparable with the compensation which is given to the working class of this country whose sons have been commandeered for the Army?

The question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Central Newcastle (Mr. Denville) had reference to increased charges for certain goods caused by vessels being diverted from one port to another.

Is it the case that more value is being attached to ships than to human lives?

That is not so.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he will consider exempting woollen comforts coming into this country for the benefit of the seafarers of the Mercantile Marine from freightage by the Ministry, on the same basis as comforts for the fighting services?

In any arrangements for the free carriage of comforts from overseas no distinction is made between comforts for the merchant navy and those destined for the fighting services.

Am I right in supposing that both have to pay freightage; and would it be possible to exempt them from that charge?

They are both being carried free.

Is my right hon. Friend quite certain about that? Is it the case that no distinction is made between the two?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Shipping how many vessels are in South Wales ports awaiting coal cargoes?

This morning the number of ships awaiting bunkers or coal cargoes is reported to be 14.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why 14 vessels should be awaiting cargoes; and is it not the case that in the last two months many more vessels have been awaiting cargoes?

I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that this figure represents a considerable improvement over the situation which prevailed a few weeks ago. I understand that the slight delays which are still occurring are due to the shortage of coal.

Can we have an assurance that this very important matter is well in hand?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Shipping the nature of the accommodation for the crews of new vessels being built to the order of the Ministry; and whether it includes all the latest improvements?

The Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Admiralty are embodying in vessels which are being built for the Ministry of Shipping crew accommodation fully up to the standard required by the Board of Trade Instructions as to the Survey of Masters' and Crew spaces, which were issued in 1937.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the accommodation on these new vessels is uniform and is similarly situated in vessels of different types?

I understand that it is up to the standard which was laid down by agreement between the various parties.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he is in a position to make a statement on the arrangements that have been made between the British and French Governments for the control of Allied shipping?

The machinery which has been set up for the co-ordination of the economic war efforts of this country and France includes an Anglo-French Permanent Executive Committee for Shipping. Its function is to provide for the allocation of the tonnage at the disposal of the Allies (including any neutral tonnage) to secure that the agreed import programmes are carried out. This Committee has been in operation since the beginning of December last.

Are we to understand that the Mercantile Marines of the two countries will be brought under unified control?

As far as it is a question of agreement on how they can be worked in order to assure an agreed Allied import programme, the answer is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Shipping how many ship broking firms have gone out of business, and how many clerks engaged in ship broking have been rendered unemployed through the operation of the Ministry; and whether he can now state what he proposes to do in respect of the representations made by ship broking firms?

I have no figures as regards the first part of the hon. Member's Question. As regards the second part, the representative bodies have before them proposals already outlined to the House.

As many of these businesses have had to be discontinued as a result of Government action, is there not an obligation on the Government to come to their assistance in some way?

The hon. Member knows that this is a very difficult question. I propose to give it my personal consideration.

Are these clerks instructed to register at the Central Registry of the Ministry of Labour?

I would like notice of that Question.

asked the Minister of Shipping what extra payment is being made to seamen employed on ships carrying munitions of war; and whether such payment applies to all members of crews?

Extra payments are made to all members of the crew of ammunition ships who are actually engaged in handling the ammunition.

asked the Minister of Shipping (1) whether the provision of extra rafts on board the decks of merchant ships has been put in operation during the war period; and if consideration has been given to placing automatic lights on all rafts, so as to enable them to be visible at night during darkness;

(2) whether the installation of lifebelt automatic lights has been adopted for the safety of the crews of merchant ships for the war period, so as to minimise the loss of life at sea during the hours of darkness?

Under the Merchant Shipping (Additional Lifesaving Appliances) Rules, 1940, which came into effect on the 8th March, it is compulsory for all seagoing ships, engaged on voyages within European waters, to carry approved buoyant apparatus sufficient to support all persons on board. Each unit of apparatus is required to be fitted with an approved self-igniting light. Active steps are being taken, in conjunction with manufacturers, with a view to the early production of lights suitable for attachment to life-jackets.

Has consideration been given to the possibility of fixing, on the lifebelts, lights of a different colour from those on the rafts, so that sailors struggling in the water may be distinguished from the lights on the rafts?

These questions are being considered by a committee at the present time.