§ 20. Mr. Loftusasked the President of the Board of Trade the decrease since 1913 in the number of British seamen employed in the mercantile marine?
§ Mr. StanleyAt the last pre-war census of seamen, taken in 1911, 136,58o British seamen (other than lascars) were employed on sea-trading vessels registered in the United Kingdom, including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The corresponding total as at 15th June, 1937, the latest available, amounted to 109,727. These totals are not strictly comparable, owing, inter alia, to the separation of Eire from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. R. GibsonHas there been a proportionate or more than proportionate falling off in the number of officers in the Mercantile Marine?
§ Mr. StanleyI should recuire notice of that question.