§ 32. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of labour required for the discharging and loading of vessels in British ports, thereby causing detention and waste of British shipping and congestion in the ports; whether this shortage of labour is due to so many men having been sent to French ports in connection with the discharge of vessels in those ports; and whether he will state what steps, if any, he is taking to make good this shortage of labour?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe points raised in the question and the whole question of congestion at the ports are receiving most careful attention, but I am not in a position to make any statement thereon at present.