HC Deb 15 June 1928 vol 218 cc1331-3W
Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people, specifying men, women, boys, and girls,

agreements which were opened, and were to terminate, in Asia. Later information as to the total number employed, and particulars of the total number of Asiatics engaged on European agreements, are not available. I have no exact information as to the nationalities of the lascars, but there is no doubt that the majority of them were natives of British India. The conditions under which Asiatic seamen are engaged cannot be fully described within the compass of the answer to a Parliamentary question. Indian lascars are engaged under conditions prescribed by the Government of India which ensure, among other things, that the lascar is properly cared for on the voyage, that he is returned to India at the end of his engagement, and that his wages run continuously to the date of his return.

As regards the rates paid to British and Asiatic seamen, British seamen are normally paid at the standard rates of wages fixed by the National Maritime Board. There are no standard rates for Asiatics. Asiatic seamen engaged on European agreements are usually paid at the European rates. The following statement gives a comparison between the standard European rates for certain ratings and the rates now paid on certain ships to various classes of Asiatic seamen serving on Asiatic agreements.

on the Devonport Employment Exchange for the month of May, 1928, and the corresponding particulars for Plymouth?

Mr. BETTERTON

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBER of persons on the Live Registers of the Plymouth and Devonport Employment Exchanges on 14th May, 1928.

Men. Boys. Women. Girls. Total.
PLYMOUTH.
3,100 131 281 70 3,582
DEVONPOET.
1,510 57 91 56 1,714

1924–5. 1925–6. 1926–7. 1927–8.
£ £ £ £
Hebridean Steamers … … 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
Dye Industry … … 2,875 — — —
Sugar Beet … … 492,040 1,066,090 3,225,859 4,310,456
Light Horse Breeding (War Office) … 28,120 30,006 29,571 29,727
Motor Transport (War Office) … … 7,152 28,724 39,592 41,057
Cunard Steamship Co. … … 90,000 90,000 90,000 63,699
Civil Aviation … … 138,511 137,000 172,480 226,400
768,098 1,361,880 3,567,502 4,681,339

NOTES.—1. The amounts for 1927–8 are in some cases subject to audit.

2. The grant to the Cunard Steamship Company terminated in November, 1927.