§ 15. Mr. AMMONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the conditions which obtain in several of our ports among the coloured population and that the distress among this section of the community is increasing; and whether he proposes to confer with the Colonial Office as to the possibility of bringing about a reduction in the number of coloured and half-caste population in the ports of Cardiff, Liverpool, Glasgow and Hull?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI have nothing to add to the reply which was given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Captain A. Evans).
§ 51. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether consideration has been given by the Home Office over a number of years to the increasing difficulty which arises from the growing numbers of coloured and half-caste people in the ports of this country; whether his attention has been drawn to reports by social organisations upon the distressing social conditions among these people; and whether he is prepared to confer with the Colonial Office and the Board of Trade as to what steps can be taken to mitigate these evils?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)A deputation from voluntary organisations was recently received by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on various matters relating to coloured seamen. These matters are under consideration at the present time in consultation with the Departments mentioned.
Vice-Admiral TAYLORDoes that investigation also apply to our own seamen on merchant ships in our own ports?