§ Viscount CURZONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state the proposals of His Majesty's Government to deal with the distress and unemployment existing amongst the captains and officers of the merchant service?
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§ Miss BONDFIELDAs explained in the reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull, on 20th February last, there is great difficulty in discovering any way of giving special assistance in these cases. I may mention, however, that the Admiralty are making representations to the contractors raising sunken ships in Scapa Flow as to the availability of a number of unemployed officers and men of the mercantile marine with experience in salvage work. As regards relief works generally, local authorities in seaport towns have been invited to give a preference up to 25 per cent. of engagements to those who have served afloat during the War.