§ 2. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the great number of coloured seamen in Hull and other ports, 2338 and of the great number of unemployed British white seamen; whether he is also aware of the many cases of unfortunate social results from the presence of these men in a white community; and whether, both in the interests of the native-born seamen and of public morals, some steps can be taken to induce these coloured men to return to their native lands?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am aware of the presence of a number of coloured seamen in Hull and other ports, and of the unemployment which exists among British white seamen. I am not aware that there has been much recent trouble owing to the presence of these coloured seamen, many of whom are British subjects. During the years immediately following the Armistice special measures were taken to induce coloured seamen who had no prospect of obtaining employment in this country to return to their native lands, but these measures, which were only partially successful and were expensive, had to be discontinued. I may add that the Home Office have taken special steps to prevent the entry of coloured seamen who are not British subjects.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWith respect to the second part of the question, has the Board of Trade communicated with social workers and ministers of religion and others who might give a good deal of evidence on this matter? Will the right hon. Gentleman do something to prevent shipowners signing on those black crews on ships to be discharged in British ports, arid then leaving the men stranded here?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThere have been constant communications by the Home Office and by my Department with the bodies referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, and it is exactly to meet the condition of affairs referred to in the second part of the supplementary question that the Home Office has made the Regulations to which I have referred.