§ 25. Mr. CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the frequent desertion at the docks of alien Asiatic seamen shipped on homeward-bound British vessels; and whether, as these alien seamen compete in an already overcrowded market, he will state what steps his Department propose to take to make these men amenable to the law?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Short)According to the information in possession of my right hon. Friend, such desertions are not frequent. The records for the year 1930 show that 33 coloured alien seamen were reported as deserters. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that all proper vigilance is exercised by the immigration officers and the police in this matter. When an alien deserter is traced, steps are taken under the Aliens Order to remove him from the United Kingdom.
Earl WINTERTONI take it the hon. Gentleman is not using the term "alien" as applying to British Indian subjects?
§ 62. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate number of aliens and Asiatics, respectively, employed in merchant ships on the British register at the present time; and how many of the Asiatics so employed are of non-British nationality?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)On the 31st March, 1930, the number of foreign seamen (other than lascars) employed on that date in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands was 14,433, and the number of lascars (British subjects and foreigners) was 52,682. The number of lascars who were of non-British nationality is not known.