§ 14 and 15. Mr. AMMONasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the distressing conditions among the coloured seamen population in the ports of this country; whether there are any means available to him for increasing the employment of these men upon ships going to sea; and if not, whether he is prepared to confer with the Colonial Office as to what steps can be taken to limit the residence in this country of men from the tropical countries now resident here without any prospect of obtaining employment;
(2) whether he is aware that shipping companies are in the habit of engaging coloured men overseas, bringing them to this country and paying them off in British ports; and whether, seeing that this leads to an increasing settlement in this country, adding to the difficulty and distress of the coloured community, he is prepared to make representations to the shipping companies that any such men engaged in future should receive their full pay on return to their country of origin?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)I am aware of the representations which have been made in regard to the position of coloured seamen and of the coloured population at some of our ports. As the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East (Mr. White) was informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs on 12th November, the matter is under the consideration of the Departments concerned.
§ Mr. AMMONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter has been under consideration for the last three years? When will the report of the committee be issued?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid I cannot say.
§ Mr. SHINWELLAre there no means of preventing shipping companies engaging coloured seamen abroad and leaving them stranded in this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf they are of British nationality I should hope they would engage them wherever possible.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it not the duty and responsibility of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to give these men repatriation if there is no employment to be found?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf the hon. Gentleman wants to know the legal position, he had better put a question on the Paper.
§ Mr. BENJAMIN SMITHIs it not right that they should only be discharged on returning to their home port?
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will direct most of his attention to getting employment for English seamen?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes. Many of these coloured seamen are British subjects.