HC Deb 17 May 1938 vol 336 cc214-5
35. Mr. Shinwell

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that seamen employed on small coasting vessels are working as many as 90 hours per week; that the number of men engaged is below requirements; that this undermanning is unfair to those ship owners who adopt reasonable manning scales; and whether he can take action in the matter?

Mr. Stanley

Hours of work on board ship are primarily a matter for the National Maritime Board who, I am informed, have the question of hours in the coasting trade under consideration.

Mr. Shinwell

But are not the National Maritime Board in a helpless and hopeless position as regards the small coastal owners who refuse to comply with the conditions laid down?

Mr. Stanley

That is not my information.

36. Mr. Shinwell

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that foreign-owned coasting vessels trading between British ports employ seamen at lower wages and working on less favourable conditions that is customary on British vessels; and whether he contemplates taking action to bring this unfair competition to an end?

Mr. Stanley

Sufficient information is not available for the purpose of a detailed comparison of wages and working conditions on British and foreign vessels respectively in the coasting trade of the United Kingdom. The shipping industry is at present considering this question, and I should prefer to await the results of that consideration before deciding whether any action on the part of the Government is necessary or possible. I should add that such information as is at present available does not suggest any marked disparity between wages and working conditions generally on British and foreign coasting vessels.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the seamen's representatives made a claim on the National Maritime Board for improved conditions and that the response was that they could not comply because of the unfair competition of foreign coasting vessels. Will he not, therefore, consider some form of licensing system under conditions laid down by the Board of Trade?

Mr. Stanley

I think we had better await the result of the inquiry to ascertain the facts of the case.