§ MR. PLIMSOLLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, When the Return, ordered by the House of Commons on the 17th February last,
of the Crews of Merchant Ships which have been committed to Prison in the years 1870, 1871, and 1872, for refusing to proceed to sea; showing the numbers of men in each case, the name of the ship, and the term of imprisonment, together with the reason alleged by the seamen for refusing to go to sea,will be laid upon the Table of the House?
MR. BRUCE,in reply, said, that there had been considerable delay in getting the Returns, in consequence of the form in which the order for them was originally drawn up. It had especially been found difficult to obtain any information as to the reasons alleged by seamen for refusing to go to sea. It had therefore been necessary to ask for the Returns in a fresh form; but the English portion would be ready next week; the Scotch portion had arrived that day, but the Irish had not yet come in.