asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made during the past 12 months to achieve agreement with other maritime nations on shipping restrictions, flags of convenience, flag discrimination and other practices inimical to world trade; which nations he has approached with this object; and what has been the result.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, East (Mr. McMaster) on 12th February.

Does the Minister realise that, especially in view of the recent American restrictions, it is an outrage that he has nothing to add? Does he realise that Britain as a seafaring nation is greatly dependent on her imports and exports and that they are prejudiced by the limitations which are at present being placed upon them? Is there not a duty upon the British Government to protect British shipping and British imports and exports?

We are well aware of the importance to this country of her shipping, but I cannot accept the hon. and learned Gentleman's statement that we have accepted any of the limitations, as he describes them, which the Americans have tried to put upon us. However, I cannot pursue that, because it anticipates a number of later Questions. With regard to the hon. and learned Gentleman's first observation, I could not accept the fact that we have done nothing. A great deal has been done. The fact that the eleven principal maritime nations are now working closely together is having a considerable influence in checking the spread of these practices.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend make a specific statement as to the representations which have been made by all the interests concerned to the Prime Minister, to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, and presumably to my hon. and gallant Friend? We want to knew what answer has been sent by the interests concerned to those who have made the representations. The matter cannot just be carried on in this way.

I am not quite clear which representations my hon. Friend is referring to. If she is referring to the recent American action, the answer is that we have taken no notice of it.

Another serious division has now arisen among the maritime nations on the question of fixing freight charges. Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman anything to say about the action of the United States Federal Maritime Commission?

I do not think can answer that question. There are a number of later Questions on this very subject.

Are we to get an answer?

Will my hon. and gallant Friend seek the co-operation of the world Press in drawing the attention of the whole world to the disadvantages of the practice of flag discrimination, particularly that of the United States, building subsidies and operational subsidies, which completely distort the whole flow and economics of the world shipping trade? Surely it is time that tie United States Government in particular were told that their territorial waters do not extend to Southampton waters?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the American Government and other Governments that practise regulation or discrimination are well aware of our views. I will certainly bear in mind what he says about the Press, but on the whole I should have said that the action taken by the Government has enjoyed a very good Press, both in his country and in other countries.

On a point of order. I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply.

The hon. and learned Gentleman will try to.