§ 25. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on 1st March the s.s. "Solan" at Hull engaged four Chinese in the catering department in preference to four Hull men; and whether he intends to take any steps to prevent this practice which deprives British seamen of employment at British ports?
Mr. WEBBThe four Chinese cooks referred to in the question were engaged at Singapore, one in place of a cook who was discharged sick, one in place of a cook who deserted, and two because some supernumerary officers were being given a passage to the United Kingdom. The master is under an obligation to return the men to Singapore, and no objection could be raised to their being employed on the ship on the passage out.
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEArising out of the reply given I would ask the right hon. Gentleman if the hon. Member's suggestion was put into effect would this not be a form of protection?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there not a resolution passed by the Trade Union Congress to the effect that British ships should be manned by British seamen?
§ 28. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of alien seamen employed in the British mercantile marine, with comparative figures for the years following the end of the late War; and whether he will confer with British shipping employers with a view to reducing unemployment among British seamen by arranging for the gradual substitution of British for alien seamen?
Mr. WEBBStatistics of alien seamen employed in the British Mercantile Marine during 1923 are not yet available, but I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT some statistics relating to seamen engaged at ports in the United Kingdom, for service in British merchant ships, during the past ten years. The proportion of aliens among these seamen has been falling steadily and is now less than 5 per cent. I doubt whether conferences with owners, who are well aware of the position, could have much material result.