§ MR. CHARLES McARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)To ask the President of the Board of Trade under which Class and Vote of the Estimates has provision been made for the allowance granted to shipowners for carrying boy sailors under Clause 6 of the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898; and will any arrangement be made, on the cessation of these allowances, to meet the case of boys who have enrolled themselves in the Royal Naval Reserve but are liable to be thrown out of employment and so unable to fulfil their obligations owing to the withdrawal of the grant for their maintenance on board ship.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) Provision is made in Sub-head A of Vote 7, Royal Naval Reserves, of the Navy Estimates, for the allowances to shipowners in respect of boy sailors carried under Section 6 of the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898. The sum provided in the Estimates for 1905–6 is £6,500. On the termination of the statutory limit on March 31st next, the power to pay the allowances in relief of light dues will come to an end, but boys entered under the Act in the "Probationer" class of the Royal Naval Reserve, who comply with the conditions laid down in 701 the regulations, will be eligible for transfer to the "Seaman" class of the Reserve, in accordance with the arrangement with the Admiralty.