§ MR. HOUSTONTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether 605 his attention has been drawn to the increasing numbers of foreigners engaged in piloting British vessels in British waters; whether, with the view of preventing danger to Great Britain in time of war, he will take measures to prevent pilots of any other nationality than British being engaged in home waters.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) If the hon. Member will refer to the debate on the First Reading of the Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill, he will see that I intimated that I was considering the question whether provision can be made in that Bill for prohibiting or restricting the grant of pilotage certificates to masters or mates who are not British subjects.† The question is one of Treaty obligations, which is now being considered by the law officers.