§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Finance Department of the Board of Trade is
† See (4) Debates, cliv., 350–1.817 deducting from the wages of seamen who are left in hospital abroad the cost of their hospital expenses and passage home; whether he can state under what regulations or section of the Merchant Shipping Act Board of Trade officials are empowered to make such deductions from the wages of sick seamen; and whether he will give instructions for this practice to be discontinued.(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The expenses referred to by the hon. Member are deducted from the wages of seamen who are left behind on account of unfitness or inability to proceed on the voyage, under Section 189 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. The expenses are not, however, deducted if the cause of leaving behind is hurt or injury in the service of the ship within the provisions of Section 207. The practice is in accord with the provision of Section 189 of the Act of 1894.