asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British oil tankers are at present laid up due to lack of work; and how many seamen would be needed to man them.

According to information compiled by the General Council of British Shipping, at 30th September 1978, there were 24 United Kingdom registered tankers, amounting to 1·9 million gross registered tons, laid up for lack of employment. No figures are available on the individual manning of these ships which depends on size, age, deployment and commercial manning agreements.