§ Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a considerable number of masters and officers of the Mercantile Marine, many of whom served the Admiralty during the War, are at present unemployed; and whether the Government are taking any steps to relieve the distress so caused to this deserving class of men[...]
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked to reply. I believe it to be the case, unfortunately, that many officers and masters of the Mercantile Marine are unemployed. Ships' officers in receipt of remuneration at a rate not exceeding £250 per annum fall within the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Acts. As regards officers excluded from insurance because they were in receipt of remuneration in excess of that sum. I am afraid it would not be possible to institute any special measures of relief.