§ Mr. HOUSTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that many of the men forming the Royal Naval Reserve, pensioners, and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, are employed on board vessels of the British Mercantile Marine; that in the event of these men being called upon to join His Majesty's ships or reserves, their places on board British Mercantile Marine vessels would-have to be filled by other seamen; that, in view of the already large percentage of foreigners, including Asiatics, employed on board British Mercantile Marine vessels and the scarcity of British sailors, these vacancies so caused would have to be filled by further foreigners, possibly Asiatics; and whether, seeing that in time of war the presence of so many aliens on board British vessels would be an element of danger, he proposes, with a view to remedying the danger arising from an inadequate supply of British seamen, to take steps to encourage the employment of a greater number of British-born subjects on board British vessels?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative so far as Royal Naval Reserve men are concerned. As regards the remainder of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. HOUSTONCan the right hon. Gentleman explain the great lack of information possessed by and the apathy displayed by the Admiralty in regard to this subject?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Admiralty have no lack of information on the subject, but as this is a matter which comes under the direct cognisance of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and belongs to his Department, it would be more appropriate to address the question to him.
§ Mr. HOUSTONI am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman, but I would ask whether he is aware that if we had unfortunately to engage in war, we would have to draw upon the men in the Mercantile Marine?
§ Mr. McKENNASo far as we would have to draw upon the Mercantile Marine, it would only be in respect of the Royal Naval Reserve men. These men are British subjects, and are available.
§ Mr. HOUSTONAssuming that these were exhausted, what Would the right hon. Gentleman draw upon then?
§ Mr. McKENNAWe have made our calculations upon the basis that they would not be exhausted.