LORD MUSKERRYMy Lords, I desire to put a Question of which I have given private notice to the noble Earl who represents the Board of Trade, namely, when will the Return showing the legal obligations of the owners of merchant vessels trading under the flags of certain foreign countries towards their captains, officers, and seamen, for which I moved on 28th May of last year, be laid on the Table?
§ THE EARL OF GRANARDMy Lords, the Return to which my noble friend 817 refers is one which was granted on 28th May of last year with reference to foreign shipping. The Return was of a somewhat complicated nature as we had to obtain the information from different foreign Governments. I can assure your Lordships that there has been no delay whatever, so far as this country is concerned. It was only the day before yesterday that we received the information asked for from Hungary. It will therefore be readily understood that it was not possible to publish the Return before, but as soon as the whole of the information is to hand and we have had time to edit it, the Return will be laid on the Table.