§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state why the Board of Trade have failed to keep at the General Registry and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen a register of all seamen, as required by Section 252 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894; whether he is aware that, in consequence of no such register being kept of the engagement and discharge of men employed on British ships, seamen are unable to obtain a true record of their past services on British ships; and whether, seeing (hat the cost of maintaining such a register of all seamen would not exceed £2,000 per annum, he will have the matter inquired into with a view to the establishment of such register.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I am informed by the Registrar-General of Seamen that he does actually keep at his office a register of all seamen, as required by Section 252 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. It is possible that this register is not kept in the manner desired by the hon. Member, but two Committees have reported that the advantages to be gained by the establishment of a central indexed register would not justify its cost. The cost of starting such a register would be over £5,000, and it would take at least £1,800 a year to maintain.