§ Sir JOHN ROLLESTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether pilotage licences are still granted to foreign shipmasters; and, if so, whether, in view of the danger of allowing a knowledge of our territorial waters to be acquired by foreigners who may be in the pay of their own Governments, steps will be taken to cancel such licences as exist and to withhold new ones except to British subjects?
Mr. ROBERTSONIn accordance with the provision of Section 73 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, pilotage certificates are now granted only to British subjects, but it is provided by the Act that this limitation shall not affect the renewal of a certificate granted before the 1st June, 1906, to a master or mate who is not a British subject. The Board of Trade have no power to act in the way suggested by the hon. Member.