Mr. A. HENDERSON, Junr.,asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that 23,934 alien seamen were signed on in the United Kingdom during 1929 for service in British ships; and whether, in view of the prevailing unemployment among British seamen, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI have been asked to reply. Of the 587,679 engagements of seamen for service on foreign-going ships at ports in the United Kingdom during 1929, 13,927, or 2.4 per cent., were engagements of foreign seamen other than Asiatics and Africans, and 15,528, or 2.6 per cent., were engagements of Asiatics and Africans (British and foreign). The remaining 95 per cent. were engagements of British seamen other than Asiatics and Africans. The number of foreign seamen engaged at ports in this country is not large nor is it increasing, and while I am naturally anxious to see British seamen employed, I do not think that there is any action which can usefully be taken by the Board of Trade.