asked the Minister of Transport how many vessels still remain under the control of his Department, and of these how many are engaged on trooping services; and how many on carrying intending migrants to British Dominions.

The number and tonnage of ships of 6,000 gross registered tons and upwards at present owned, requisitioned or time chartered by my Department are as follows:

—	Number	Gross Tons (Thousands).
Vessels allocated for Service Requirements
Vessels employed as troopships	16	213·1
Vessels reconditioning after trooping prior to return to owners	1	26·0
Hospital Ship-Laid up pending sale	1	7·8
Troopship Laid up pending sale	1	6·9
Emigration
Vessels employed for emigration or as civilian transports	10	142·7
Vessels completing reconditioning in May/June, 1950, for service as above	1	22·4
Vessels on Commercial Service
Government-owned and under management of a Shipping Company pending sale	1	6·1
Government-owned and Laid up pending sale	1	7·1
Government-owned and Trading under Managers for Ministry account pending sale	2	14·2
Government-owned and Chartered to Shipping Companies	16	117·3
On bareboat charter from Canadian Government—
(a) Sub-chartered to Shipping Companies	26	184·9
(b) Returned from sub-charter to be redelivered to Canadian Government	32	227·6
	108	976·1

In addition, I have entered into an agreement with the owners of three ships operating from the U.K. to Australia under which all passenger accommodation in the three ships on the outward voyages to Australia is placed at my Department's disposal for emigration purposes.