§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will say how many foreign masters and mates hold pilot licences for ports in Great Britain, and also how many hold licences for ports in Ireland; how many of those, licences were granted by the Board of Trade and how many by port pilotage authorities respectively; and whether he will consider the advisability of putting a stop to this system with the view to prevent danger to this country in case of war with a foreign power.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIn only one case has a pilotage certificate been granted by the Board of Trade to the master of a foreign ship. The Board have not the numbers granted by pilotage authorities, but I shall be happy to take steps to obtain them. In 1888 a Select 532 Committee of the House of Commons recommended a renewal of the practice of granting pilotage certificates to the masters and mates of foreign ships, and the recommendation was given effect to in the Merchant Shipping Acts of 18891 and 1894. Legislation would be required to change the system, and on the information before me I am not prepared to re-open the question.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI cannot say exactly. I think it was a case in which the local authority refused it.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURYes.