§ 12. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether steamship companies who bring lascar crews to British home ports are under any liability to provide housing accommodation and food to either discharged or waiting crews of Eastern origin; if so, can he briefly state what the Regulations are in the matter, and if such housing is subject to any inspection by his Department; and how many officials are employed for this purpose?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)I have been asked to answer this question. I have recently had an opportunity of inspecting personally the accommodation available for Lascar seamen at the London Docks and have come to the conclusion that there is room for considerable improvement in certain cases. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State for India and I are now discussing the matter, and I have taken up with the Board of Trade the question of action in connection with it. I shall be glad to inform the hon. Member in due course of any decision which may be arrived at.
§ Mr. SHINWELLWill the Department at the same time inquire into the housing accommodation provided for white sea- 2347 men in various ports of this country? Cannot steps be taken to prevent crews being shipped on vessels to be paid off at British ports so that they shall not be discharged in this country?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe whole question requires careful consideration, and it will receive it at the hands of the Secretary of State and myself.
§ 17. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department have any control over the rates of wages that are paid to Lascar crews on British boats using Home ports; whether, if contracts made in the East are not kept in this country by the steamship owners, the Lascar sailor has any appeal to his Department, or what is the man's remedy; and can he make any general statement on the subject?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe answer is rather long, and, with the hon. Member's permission, I will have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The Board of Trade have no control over the rates of wages at which Lascar crews are engaged for service in British ships. Lascars are normally engaged at ports in India on a form of agreement prescribed by the Government of India under the Indian Merchant Shipping Acts; they are not, as a rule, discharged in this country, and, if transferred to another ship, the agreement which they sign in India normally remains in force. Any such transfer at a port in the United Kingdom must be made under the supervision, and with the approval, of a Lascar Transfer Officer, who is generally a member of the staff of the Board of Trade, but holds a special appointment from the India Office as Lascar Transfer Officer. If any question as to non-fulfilment of the terms of the agreement with a Lascar should arise in this country, the Lascar's proper course would be to appeal to the Lascar Transfer Officer. As, however, Lascars are not ordinarily paid off until their return to India, questions arising out of the contract, that is, the Lascar agreement, usually fall to be determined by a Government Officer at the port of discharge in India.