§ MR. W. ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the President of the Board of 873 Trade whether be has vet decided to raise the period of engineer apprenticeships to five years instead of three, ere being qualified to act as a sea-going engineer; and whether he intends to alter the grades of sea-going engineer certificates to third, second, and first class, instead of second and first class as sit present?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe proposals to which my hon. Friend refers are receiving careful consideration. I have placed myself in communication with the interests concerned, and I am about to receive a deputation from the marine engineers on the subject. I shall not be in a position to announce any decision in the matter until I have considered all these representations.