§ Sir C. COBBasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the organisation committee of the Gravesend Sea School keeps in touch with the ex-pupils of the school; whether he can give the number and percentage of the ex-pupils who have not continued to serve in the capacity for which they were trained; and whether he can say how many ex-pupils are, in fact, at present unemployed?
Colonel WILSONArrangements are in force which provide for a visit on behalf of the organisation committee to every ex-pupil of the Gravesend Sea School, on the arrival of his ship at a port in the United Kingdom, with a view to his welfare. It is not possible at this stage to give any reliable figures showing how many ex-pupils have continued to serve in the capacity for which they were trained. So far as is known, none have left the sea service permanently, but, as in the case of other seamen engaged by the voyage, they are in some cases subject to intervals of non-employment between the voyages of their vessels.