§ 66. Mr. STEWARTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether anything has been done to meet the difficulties of Mercantile Marine officers who are out of employment owing to the loss of their ships owing to enemy action; and whether the Government can favourably consider a grant of unemployed pay while these men are waiting for employment in new ships, in view of the financial difficulties placed upon them through no fault of their own?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Sir Leo Chiozza Money)The Shipping Controller has had this subject under continuous attention. With regard to officers, it has not been thought necessary to take special steps, in view of the fact that the demand is equal to the supply, and, indeed, steps are being taken to provide against a prospective shortage of junior officers. With regard to masters, we have obtained lists of those unemployed through enemy action 603 from the officers' associations, and, in addition, have taken careful note of masters whose ships have been sunk. A list of these names is furnished to the managers of standard ships, with a special request that they should be favourably considered for employment. As a result, certain engagements have been made, and we hope that in the course of a little while the list of these masters, which is not a very big one, will be substantially reduced.