To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed arrangements for the use of merchant shipping in time of war.

Arrangements for the use of merchant shipping in time of war are kept under regular review.

Has not the Government's wilful neglect of their merchant shipping fleet and merchant seamen severely reduced the country's capacity to defend itself'?

No, Sir. We judge that there are sufficient British and British-dependent territory ships for the needs of the British forces. In the Merchant Shipping Bill we have included powers to assist with the training of merchant seamen, and, as the hon. Gentleman will know, provision for a Merchant Navy reserve.