§ 64. Mr. STEWARTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can see his way to afford some provision in the way of a retaining allowance for the assistance of shipmasters and officers of torpedoed vessels during the time they are unable to find fresh employment owing to want of ships, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government refuses to grant passports permitting them to go to America where they can get-employment which would enable them to support their wives and families?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY Of SHIPPING (Sir Leo Chiozza Money)I have been asked to reply to this question. I am considering sympathetically the case of these officers, and have to-day obtained from the Mercantile Marine Service Association particulars of the cases they have before them.
I do not think it will be practicable to pay retaining allowances as suggested, unless the officers are actually employed by the Government, but I hope to be able to inform the hon. Member in the course of a week or so what arrangements for their employment are possible.