§ 39. Colonel BURNasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is prepared to introduce legislation at the earliest possible moment to prohibit the use of pilotage licences for home waters to all aliens and to confine the same strictly to British subjects?
§ Mr. WARDLEAt the present time no alien holds a pilot's licence for any port in the United Kingdom, and, so far as I am aware, such licences have never been granted to aliens. A pilotage certificate may be granted to the master or mate of a ship under certain conditions enabling him to dispense with the services of a licensed pilot in a specified district. Such certificates can only be issued to British subjects except in certain special cases for which provision is made by Section 24 of the Pilotage Act, 1913. All such certificates held by enemy aliens before the War have lapsed, and no provision exists for their renewal. As regards other aliens, provision is made for the renewal of certificates which were in force before the 1st June, 1906. No new certificates can be granted to aliens in any district if the Admiralty at any time consider that on the grounds of public safety this should not be done. In these circumstances, as at present advised, my right hon. Friend does not consider that any further legislation is necessary.