HC Deb 11 July 1918 vol 108 cc491-2
42. General CROFT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the exempted Thames pilots, who are all over military age, have been deprived of their livelihood, he can now state what steps he proposes to take, in conjunction with the Trinity House authorities, to place all pilots on the River Thames on an equality under one body, in order that they may share the work with other Thames pilots?

Sir A. STANLEY

I am informed by the Trinity House that of the forty men included in the class of exempt pilots, thirteen are under fifty. The average earnings of these men in recent years have been as follows:

£
1912 … … … … 301
1913 … … … … 352
1914 … … … … 355
1915 … … … … 446
1916 … … … … 357
1917 … … … … 339
So that it will be seen that there has been no appreciable diminution in their average earnings compared with the pre-War earnings. In the opinion of the Trinity House, the suggestion that all pilots on the River Thames shall be put on an equality under one body, in order that they may share the work with other Thames pilots, is not practicable.

General CROFT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases these pilots definitely state that they are not receiving these funds at all, and do not the figures apply to a few only?

Sir A. STANLEY

No; I am not aware of that. They apply to the whole, so far as I know, but I will make inquiry.

43. General CROFT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now inquired into the fact that when the Admiralty took over and requisitioned the steamers trading in the Thames the licensed Trinity House river pilots for exempted ships were deprived of their means of livelihood and are in many cases now on the verge of starvation; and what steps he proposes to take to compensate these sufferers for the losses they have sustained?

Sir A. STANLEY

Although the average income of this class of pilot has not appreciably declined, as compared with the pre-war income, I understand that the earnings of some of the men have been reduced from various causes, but I regret that the Board of Trade have no funds at their disposal to compensate these men for any falling off in their employment.