HC Deb 08 December 1936 vol 318 cc1807-8
2. Mr. BENJAMIN SMITH

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cases in which the payment of tramp shipping subsidy has been refused on the ground that the rates of wages paid to the crew were not in accord with the decisions of the National Maritime Board?

Dr. BURGIN

There has been so far no case in which the Tramp Shipping Subsidy Committee have found it necessary to withhold their recommendation for payment of subsidy solely on the ground that the applicable agreements of the National Maritime Board have not been observed in respect of rates of wages. Certain cases have come to the committee's notice, where the rates paid on a particular voyage to individual members of the crew were less than is required by the agreement applicable. In these cases the committee, before recommending payment of subsidy for that voyage, have required owners to make the appropriate payments to the Crew.

4. Mr. SMITH

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of vessels in respect of which subsidy has been paid during 1936 in which lascar or other coloured seamen formed the whole of the crew and part of the crew, respectively?

Dr. BURGIN

The information desired is not available in the records of the Tramp Shipping Subsidy Committee, since it is not relevant to their consideration of claims to inquire whether the crew on any particular voyage comprised or included coloured seamen. As the hon. Member is aware, owners must satisfy the committee that in the engagement of seamen they have complied with the committee's requirement regarding the employment of British crews.

Mr. SMITH

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in the form of application for a subsidy it is laid down that the number of white seamen and the number of lascars or Asiatic seamen shall be stated, and if that is the case will he now get the information?

Dr. BURGIN

In the form in which the question is asked the information is not available.

Mr. SMITH

The statement by the Parliamentary Secretary is that the facts asked for cannot be ascertained. The point I am putting is that on the form of application for the subsidy the person applying for it has to state definitely the number of lascars and the number of white seamen, and I suggest that the information is available.

Dr. BURGIN

I have not got it at the moment, but if it is possible to procure it, I will.