§ 12. Dr. MORRIS-JONESasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed among British crews of British-owned ships of the mercantile marine for the month ended 30th April last; and the number for the corresponding month of 1929?
§ Miss BONDFIELDSeparate statistics are not available regarding the numbers unemployed among British crews of British-owned ships, but at 28th April, 1930, there were 23,437 seamen (British and foreign) on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain as compared with 16,223 at 22nd April, 1929.
§ Dr. MORRIS-JONESIn view of the large proportion of foreign seamen employed, and the possibility of them displacing British seamen, will the right hon. Lady inquire into that question?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI will certainly inquire into that matter.
§ Mr. KINLEYDoes the Department take any special steps in the case of British seamen who are entitled to benefit becoming unemployed to replace them on British ships?
§ Miss BONDFIELDPerhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of that question.