HC Deb 23 March 1910 vol 15 cc1049-50
Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the practice of Trinity House to grant licences to foreigners to act as pilots in British waters; and, if so, whether he proposes to advise that in future such practice be discontinued?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Sydney Buxton)

I am informed by the Trinity House that it is not their practice to (grant licences to foreigners to act as pilots in British waters. The qualifications they require of candidates for such licences do not specify that they shall be British subjects, but every candidate has to be certified as "well affected to His Majesty's person and Government." I am further informed that no foreigner has applied for such a licence, at any rate in recent years, and that if such an application were made the Trinity House would probably, in the exercise of their discretion, refuse to entertain it.