§ 8. Mr. Dayasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the approximate number of foreign seamen, other than lascars, employed as at the last convenient date in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Isles; and the number of lascars who were of non-British nationality?
Mr. StanleyThe number of seamen employed on British ships is ascertained only at a date when a census of seamen is taken. On 15th June, 1936, about 5,400 foreign seamen (other than Lascars) were employed on sea-trading vessels registered 187 at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands; the proportion of foreigners was 3½ per cent. and the lowest ever recorded. The number of Lascars of non-British nationality employed is not known.
§ Mr. DayIn view of the importance of the last part of the question, is it not possible to obtain this information?