§ Sir REGINALD POLE-CAREWasked what is the number of men of foreign 1810 nationality serving in the British mercantile marine; and what proportion they bear to men of British or Colonial birth?
Mr. BUXTONIt is not possible to state definitely the number of men of foreign nationality now serving in the British mercantile marine. The figures showing the number of persons employed in vessels belonging to the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands during 1909, published in the Annual Statement of Navigation and Shipping (Cd. 5292) for that year are the latest available. These are as follows:—
The proportion of foreign seamen was 16.06 to every 100 of British nationality, the lowest percentage reached since 1893. These figures are exclusive of lascars and Asiatics, of whom a large proportion are British subjects. Detailed figures with regard to these are not available.
British … … … 198,474 Foreign … … … 31,873