§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the risk arising from the fact that fifty-nine foreign pilots are employed on our coast, he will consider the advisability of granting pilotage certificates for English waters to British subjects only.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)It is quite true that a certain number of foreigners are allowed to be pilots in our waters, although there are no foreign pilots registered in other countries. I have great sympathy with those who think that, if we admit foreign pilots in our waters foreign countries ought to admit British pilots to their waters. The matter is engaging the attention of the Government, but I ought to add that I do not think the circumstances are productive of any serious national danger.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Has any complaint ever been made of the way in which they discharge their duties?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI gather that the complaint would come when this country was at war with some country to whom these foreign pilots belonged.