§ 3. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the report of the Council of the Mercantile Marine Association, which discloses that one-sixth of our mercantile fleet lay idle in British ports in 1931 while 56,000 seamen of all grades were unemployed, he will request the Indian Government to encourage Indian manufacturers, shippers, and exporters to see that all exports to the Empire are, as far as possible, shipped British?
§ Sir S. HOAREI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 5th 803 May to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West St. Pancras (Mr. Mitcheson) by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade. My hon. Friend will, I think, agree with me that so long as a "Ship British" movement in this country is considered impracticable, the Government of India cannot reasonably be asked to initiate one in India.
§ Mr. KIRKPATRICKWould my right hon. Friend also encourage British firms to see that their employés travel backwards and forwards between India and England in British ships?
§ Sir S. HOAREI agree with my hon. Friend, but I think that the publicity given to this question will serve that purpose.
§ Commander MARSDENWill the right hon. Gentleman see that passages paid for by the Government shall be made in British ships?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have already answered one or two questions on that point, and I have given the House reasons why it is difficult to impose a rule of this kind.