asked the Minister of Transport how many ships owned by British companies have been sent abroad for repairs, and what is the cost involved; and what is the reason for this policy in view of unemployment in British ship repair yards.

Apart from voyage repairs and from running repairs only 24 ships have, since September, 1947, been permitted to carry out repairs in foreign ports. This is an insignificant proportion of the total repair work and permission was given because facilities, including materials and dry docks, were not immediately available in this country. The cost of the repair of these 24 ships was £690,000.