§ Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that vessels requisitioned by the Admiralty for Government service are being held up and delayed in Liverpool through shortage of labour; will he take the necessary steps to supply the deficiency; and (2) whether he is aware of the shortage of labour in Liverpool, thereby causing congestion in the docks, on the quays, in warehouses and railway yards, and delay to steamers; whether he is aware that on 15th November one firm of shipowners were short of 480 men, and another firm whose quay is adjacent were on the same day short of 200 men; whether, in view of this shortage, he is prepared to bring stevedores, dock labourers, and quay porters back from France or to employ German prisoners at suitable work, such as new docks, repairing roads, or in agriculture, suitably guarded, so as to release British labour on such work, with a view to its employment at the docks to expedite the discharging and loading of steamers in the same manner as adopted in France, and thereby relieve congestion at the docks, turn steamers round more quickly, and increase the number of voyages a steamer can make in a year?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am informed by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty that there has been no unreasonable delay at the Port of Liverpool in recent weeks in dealing with vessels requisitioned by the Admiralty. As regards the general work of the port, I am aware that from time to time there has been shortage of labour. The particular suggestions made in the question are not being overlooked. I am in immediate consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in regard to the supply of dock labour generally.