§ MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether shipowners have as yet to any, and, if so, to what extent, signified their intention of availing themselves of the proposals for the carrying of boy sailors included in Section 6 of the Mercantile Marine Fund Act of last Session; and whether any, and, if so, what number of boys have been enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve under the provisions of the scheme.
§ MR. HANBURY (for Mr. RITCHIE)No special intimation has been made to the Board of Trade by shipowners generally as to the extent to which they are likely to avail themselves of the provisions of the section to which my hon. friend refers. So far, twelve firms have, since the 1st April, enrolled boys as probationers in the Royal Naval Reserve under this scheme, and the number of boys so enrolled is 112.