§ 5. Mr. LOGANasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of lascars employed in the mercantile marine, and the amount paid into the special fund for seamen during the years 1930 and 1931?
§ Dr. BURGINThe number of lascars, British subjects and foreigners, employed on the 31st March, 1930, and the 26th April, 1931, in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, was 52,682 and 49,125 respectively. The amount paid into the special fund for seamen, known as the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund, was £86,154 in 1930, and £73,703 in 1931.
§ Mr. LOGANIs it not a fact that the 101,807 who are called Britishers are not really living in England, and, in view of our home troubles, is it not possible to make some arrangement with the Board of Trade so that 101,807 of our own British people may be employed?
§ Dr. BURGINThe hon. Member had better put the question on the Paper. Quite a number of these lascars are British subjects.
§ 6. Mr. LOGANasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of non-British subjects employed in the mercantile marine; and whether any action is being taken to ensure that British crews are employed on British ships?
§ Dr. BURGINThe number of seamen employed in British ships is ascertained only at a date when a census of seamen is taken, and the latest information available relates to 26th April, 1931. On that date the number of foreign seamen, other than lascars, employed in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands was 11,204, representing 8.6 per cent. of the total number of seamen employed. The number of lascars who were not of British nationality is not known. I am not aware of any further action that can usefully be taken to ensure that British crews are employed on British ships.
§ Mr. LOGANIn view of the unemployment among British sailors and the fact that in many of these cases the sailors 1431 are not British, cannot the Board of Trade make representations that British ships should ship British crews?
§ Dr. BURGINThe percentage of foreign seamen is steadily falling each year. In 1929 it was 8 per cent., in 1930 7.4 per cent., and in 1931 it was 6.6 per cent. I think that the point of the hon. Member is largely being met by the facts.
§ Mr. LOGANIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that in respect of this particular case Chinese crews are being shipped by British firms and that British crews are being discharged? I am interested simply and solely as representing a port, because I want to ensure a chance being given to British seamen of employment on British ships instead of their being on the rates.
§ Dr. BURGINA number of the Chinese in question are also British subjects.