§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade have recently granted pilotage certificates for the Bristol pilotage district to the masters of two Dutch vessels; whether the Dutch Government do not permit the issue of pilotage certificates to English masters or mates; and, if so, whether a representation will be made to the Dutch Government to grant the same treatment to British masters of vessels as the British Government grant to Dutch masters.
(Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The Board of Trade recently examined the 583 masters of two Dutch vessels, but they only granted a pilotage certificate to one of them, the other not being found properly qualified. The Netherlands Government do not grant such certificates to the masters or mates of any vessels, whether Dutch or British; and it would accordingly be useless for His Majesty's Government to make the suggested representation.