§ 28 Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dissatisfaction is being caused among British seamen by the increasing employment of cheap Chinese labour on British ships; that no case has been made out for such general employment of Chinese seamen as is being resorted to; that British seamen, including the 40,000 with the Colours, believe that their economic position both now and after the War is being gravely prejudiced and imperilled by this development; and what action he proposes to take?
Mr. HARCOURTI am aware that some dissatisfaction has been caused among British seamen by the increasing employment of Chinese seamen on British ships, 2050 which, as my hon. Friend knows, is largely due to the present shortage of British seamen available for employment. As regards the last part of the question, I can only say that the point raised will receive serious attention.