§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state if seamen engaged on British vessels 490 registered in the United Kingdom are subject to and protected by the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, notwithstanding the fact that they may be engaged in the United Kingdom, British possessions abroad, or in foreign ports; and whether there is any section of the Merchant Shipping Act which exempts any seaman so engaged from the operation of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, in British possessions abroad or in foreign ports; and, if so, which is the section?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (for Mr. RITCHIE)Yes, Sir; generally speaking, seamen engaged on British vessels are subject to the Act of 1894, even when engaged in British possessions or foreign ports. Section 125, however, contains special provisions with regard to natives of India.